ORGANISATIONAL change expert Justine Chinoperekweyi has called on Zimbabwean businesses to embrace new narratives and leadership approaches to foster change and development in the country.
Chinoperekweyi is the co-founder of the Centre for Organisation Leadership and Development (Cold), an organisation committed to improving the performance of individual professionals, work teams and organisations.
His remarks came as Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga called for a standard shift in Zimbabwe’s economic model, which he said had macroeconomic weaknesses that needed revolutionary changes.
Speaking during the inaugural Transformational Change and Development Forum last week in the capital, Chinoperekweyi said Zimbabwe needed to silence a lot of populist loudmouths who ride on pseudo-transformational leadership.
“In today’s emergent change environment, it is imperative that more transformational change and development practitioners emerge to support individuals, work groups, organisations, communities, and governments. The practitioners should be guided by a new consulting, business and leadership paradigm — a paradigm premised on our humanity and on the arc of development. Such is key in facilitating positive change,” he said.
“For sustainable socio-economic transformation, Zimbabwe needed to start giving the pride of place to practitioners fostering real transformation. Zimbabwe has become an award giving country, but sadly, real transformation that elevates humanity and bring presence to human systems is still scarce.”
As a highly ambitious economy, with unmatched growth potential, Chinoperekweyi said loud calls for transformational change and development should be made across economic sectors.
He said government should champion the design and facilitation of transformation-focused interventions.
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“New 21st century thinking must characterise decisions and operations within the government and all parastatals,” Chinoperekweyi said.
“For this to happen, there is need for boldness in disrupting the status quo and challenging and questioning practices and mental modes of those supporting the government and all its arms. There is need for the emergence of mission-critical professionals and so-called ‘technocrats’ to champion organisational and socio-economic transformation.”
Chinoperekweyi challenged businesses and captains of industry to shun 20th century thinking and methodologies, avoid celebrating mediocrity and start fostering real transformation.
He highlighted that in today’s changing environment, it is imperative that more transformational change and development practitioners emerge to support individuals, work groups, organisations, communities and governments.
“The practitioners should be guided by a new consulting, business, and leadership paradigm — a paradigm premised on our humanity and on the arc of development. Such is key in facilitating positive change,” Chinoperekweyi added.
