8. Bishop Desmond Tutu

Desmond Tutu had his 79th birthday this week and decided time was right to retire from the world stage. Bishop Tutu chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa which followed the fall of the White apartheid-based government and facilitated the move to a truly democratic system.

The brilliance of this peaceful transition is rarely recognised but comparison with Zimbabwe may be pertinent - Rhodesia was as strong as South Africa at the time of its independence.

Truth and Reconciliation recognised the spiritual needs of both sides of the old regime - the oppressed and the oppressor - to recognise the wrongs - individual and collective - perpetrated under that system. These needs included confession of their roles and actions, expression of regret, and requesting and bestowing of forgiveness.

Getting the truth in the open removed the desire in those who had been maltreated to confront their abusers, and gave the abusers the opportunity to confess their dark secret at a time and in an environment of acceptance and forgiveness. This laid the foundation for reconciliation and moving forward into a fairer world. Had this not been achieved, feelings of frustration and a desire to blame and achieve retribution would have been likely, with negative physical, mental and spiritual consequences for all.

Was South Africa incredibly fortunate in having a number of Globally Fit leaders at the time, or is it the case that such leadership is only fostered by the kind of backgrounds these leaders experienced? Was it living under apartheid that actually helped South Africa's new leaders achieve what Zimbabwe has failed to do?

Nelson Mandela suffered many years of abuse and imprisonment but emerged as a great leader with brilliant ideas, the passion to follow them through and the humility and compassion to bring both sides with him, but to me it was the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, led by Desmond Tutu with his infectious laugh, twinkling eyes, sharp mind and global spirituality that paved the way for peaceful change.