Editor,

Refer to Klaus Schwab’s article, "The techno-political transformation” (The New Times, May 6). I couldn’t agree more.

The era of demagogues and pen pushers is over. The kind of policy-makers and policy re-enforcers now needed are those individuals with reasoning brains, with acutely sensible "hearts”, and strong nerves to cling on their objectives no matter what, up to practical implementation.

But how will those kinds of individuals be brought into office and in various socio-cultural fields, particularly in Africa where the polling and the policy-making and implementation systems are nothing but a shoddy copy-paste of the 19th-20th century European systems?

In Africa, talents abound and in every domain. So "talents” wouldn't be a problem. What in my view is lacking is thrust to innovation. And contrary to the layperson perception, innovation doesn't happen through magic, chance, or mere improvisation.

Innovation is the outcome of a coolheaded mindset steering individuals and communities toward happier futures. The ultimate issue then, in the African context, would be to assess how well shaped is our individual and collective mindset; how is it self-centred while aware of its now world environment.

Who am I, and what am I doing, in my capacity and with means available here and now, for my betterment and for the betterment of my community? This is a crucial assessment exercise that everyone – in each one's life course – should constantly be engaged in.

Perhaps a potent self-cure from our colonial and neo-colonial disease is still acute in each of us!

François-Xavier Nziyonsenga, Montréal,Canada