FORMER President Mr Benjamin Mkapa and Minister for Lands, Housing and Human Settlement Development Prof Anna Tibaijuka have been hailed as exemplary leaders in East Africa, who should be emulated.

Speaking on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Kiswahili morning programme 'Amka na BBC', a Nairobi-based Catholic priest, Father Olingo Mondo said the two leaders have shown good leadership in Eastern Africa by bringing prosperity to the people they serve.

"Since Mr Mkapa left office over seven years ago, he has been living a very simple life, rendering assistance whenever invited to do so," said Father Mondo during the 30-minute programme. The cleric further said that other Christian leaders in the region should borrow a leaf from Mr Mkapa, a man of low profile, who lives just like any ordinary citizen in his country.

Father Mondo further mentioned Prof Tibaijuka, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT) as an exemplary Catholic. Until her resignation in 2010, when she ran for political office, Prof Tibaijuka was the second highest ranking African woman in the UN System.

Father Mondo praised Prof Tibaijuka for returning back to Tanzania to help her people, though she had some opportunities to work for better pay in Europe or elsewhere.

"Apart from Mwalimu Nyerere, President Mkapa and Prof Tibaijuka are good Christians who have held top leadership positions and have delivered and other believers ought to follow," said Father Mondo.