Wangari Maathai is a Kenyan biologist, environmentalist, activist and winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Price. In her most recent work, The Challenge for Africa, she writes:

“The exercise of good leadership would end government violations of human rights and restrictions on freedoms such as the right to move, assemble, access information, and organize. Good leadership could decide, for instance, not to sell off Africa’s natural resources for such low prices, and then to invest the additional revenue to accelerate human and economic development. Good leadership could curtail corruption, one of the most corrosive aspects of poor leadership that has been rife in post-independence Africa. Good leadership would provide the milieu in which citizens can be creative, productive and build wealth and opportunity.”

Tomorrow Burundi will host the first in a series of five elections, the Burundian people participating in the selection of their leaders for the first time in seventeen years. You can imagine how excited people are on the eve of the first election, the selection of regional leaders. There are party flags waving proudly in the African sun, rallies with party leaders sharing ideas over megaphones, small groups all over the city talking together about the kind of government they want and the type of leaders it will take to move the country forward. These are important days and intoxicating times to be in Burundi!

Please pray that the Burundian people will be blessed with discernment, wisdom and courage to elect good leadership as described by Wangari Maathai. Leaders who will protect human rights for all citizens, protect the environment and natural resources of Burundi and combat corruption at every level of government… leaders who will want to serve and not steal, who will bring blessings and not a curse to this country. Pray for Burundi tomorrow – for peace to blanket the cities and citizens of this land as they cast their first vote for a new season of political life.

Lord, bless Burundi with good leadership so that your dream for this land may unfold on every hillside and in every household. Amen.