Enforcement of Ethical Leadership Standards and Practices in State-Owned Enterprises in Southern Africa: Challenges and Strategies for Revamping Corporate Governance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51137/wrp.ijarbm.642Keywords:
Ethical Leadership, Corporate Governance, State-Owned Enterprises, Enforcement, Southern AfricaAbstract
Although Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 16 and other complementary corporate governance reforms aim to promote good governance and sustainable development by establishing strong, effective, accountable, responsive, and inclusive institutions, Southern Africa still struggles with unethical leadership, especially in State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs). Media and audit reports across Southern Africa have revealed several instances of unethical leadership practices in SOEs. Against this backdrop, this study explores the factors influencing the enforcement of ethical leadership practices in SOEs and suggests strategies to improve corporate governance in these vital institutions. Using a combination of literature review and documentary analysis, and guided by the 5Cs protocol, the study identified contextual, capacity, commitment, and coalitions issues as barriers to enforcing ethical leadership standards in Southern Africa. To address these enforcement gaps, the study recommends, among other strategies, the need for political will, strengthening legal and institutional frameworks, capacity building, interagency collaboration, reinforcing the fundamental principles of public administration, consequence management and leveraging technology for transparency and accountability.
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