Leadership plays a great and important role in governance of a democratic nation. Transformational leadership components are interaction, empowerment, motivation, creativity, and passion. Hence this leadership framework changes people's operative attitudes, values, and beliefs from self-centered to higher selfless beliefs and attitudes (Starratt, 1995, P.110). This study proposes a framework of democratic leadership in democratic governance. The study considers sacrifice, courage, symbolism, citizen participation and vision as major characteristics in the sign of democratic leadership in various political, social and cultural contexts. Inferring to Meles Zenawi1’s leadership; considering him as exemplary model of transformational leadership in developmental government for developing democracy who known by his new political ideology called “developmental democratic state”. Meles Zenawi (1991–2014) can be seen as model of Ethiopia transformational leader who able to introduce a major economic, political, social positive changes. Before he came to power; Ethiopia was in a long lasting civil war and its name was more popular in drought and famine. Because of his dedication in coaching his followers, he had able to create other transformational leaders and currently they are becoming best leaders and sustaining the growth of the country. He has showed pertinent characteristics of transformational leadership, offering lessons for developmental governance. Even though, there are many challenges of the government like corruption, lack of transparency and accountability and external threat from that of historical enemy Egypt.
Meles Zenaw, Transformational leadership
