Opinion / Columnist
How the state became the new face of capitalism: Reflections of a Trade Unionist.
17 Oct 2016 at 21:21hrs | Views
(Picketting at Wits University during the MTN 8 soccer match between Wits and Orlando Pirates @2016Engage.
I am an African.
History
I was born during the evolution of African independent states which came as a result of imperialism. The post-independence destabilization of multi-African countries led to the birth of nationalist leaders whose ideology was to wage war against the minority oppressor. This was in pursuit of self-serving power sharing, to attain a better percentage of Gross National Happiness.
Nationalist leaders then advocated for the single party state as the way to go. The African governments saw themselves as Messiahs of social, political and economic say-so. Nevertheless they genuinely sought to meet the needs and wants of the then slightly marginalized majority.
Thus, without an espousal on communist ideologies, African nationalists campaigned for the Stalinist-Marxist ideologies where the state amongst many other rights, dipped its fingers in the allocation and redistribution of land, resources, redistribution of income and consumption.
In pursuit of such ideology, there was a consensus by nationalists of the day to have absolute ownership of the means of production and also control the finances.
Unknown to the majority, the nationalist leaders played one-party politics to tighten grip on power. Such control would veto any hindrance to their accumulation of wealth at all costs.
Who has acquired
It is an open secret that amongst many others, Laurent Kabila, Joseph Kabila, Mobutu Seseseko, Robert Mugabe, Kamuzu Banda, Yoweri Museveni and Jacob Zuma, have personally acquired unparalleled, gargantuan business interests. Since authoritarianism is the current defining disposition of the neo-colonial states, the President's role in business has pioneered a greedy based political-cum-capitalist trend.
The point of departure is that the order of the day in this day and age is that the small vital part of the state captures the small vital parts of the economy. This benefits a few bigwigs in the state who then become the controlling stake holders in the economic front.
Where are we now?
In Zimbabwe a few political leaders are in control of the means of production. They acquired all the land, diamonds and gold mines. In South Africa, the Gupta-Gate scandal explains it all. Not to be left out is the rise of the South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa from being a mine worker, to a hard core trade unionist, to a shareholder and owner of the means of production. He has crossed over. This has alienated the worker even further. This has further led to the representational gap becoming bigger.
Anyways,
Capitalism's future
The current states are formulations of capital. Capitalism is everywhere and it has been spreading like a rash in the groin. What is the way forward? What worries the most is the fact that capitalism's best weapon is education. It would appear as if quiet a number of workers are allergic acquiring a decent education to fight capitalism. Probably the workers are heavily engulfed in fighting poverty and seeking a better life; and by the time one understands the capital system, it would have been too late.
The new face of capitalism is found in the governments. It becomes difficult to fight capitalism as those controlling the means production emotionally blackmail the majority by calling it either black economic empowerment or the redistribution of capital to the previously disadvantaged individuals.
Face of capitalism
Robert Mugabe and a few elites have taken over Zimbabwe for themselves. In South Africa, Jacob Zuma and the Zuptas lead the pack.
One ponders if capitalism can be eradicated in the near future. Where to from here? What is the future of the worker? Who will rectify state capture? Is it even state capture? Could it be capital manifesting its greediness by capturing the vital capital element?
As long as the worker maintains the status quo, the future is bleak for the worker. As long as the community remains deeply divided over the real gains of the #FMF #FeesMustFall, the worker will remain trapped in poverty quicksand!
Hope for the precariet class is vital.
For Zimbabwe, #ThisFlag, #Tajamuka #EndGame movements remain vital.
For South Africa, #FeesMustFall remains pivotal in fighting against capitalism.
@Senate House: #FeesMustFall Protest
The remnant shall return.
Hope lies in class solidarity.
Hope lies in class consciousness.
Hope lies in the new social movements.
There is always hope for the precariet class!
#FeesMustFall
#CapitalismMustFall
#Tajamuka
Down with capital!
Create equal opportunities for all!
Tapiwa Diamond Chadya is a rooted cosmopolitan, a GLU-Engage2016 Graduate, a Labour and legal Practitioner, a Researcher, and a Political Analyst-cum-Activist. He read law the University of KwaZulu Natal and is Researching towards an LLM. He concomitantly lives in the Natal Midlands and Johannesburg. He can be contacted on 27 (0)84 566 2756 or email him at diamondtapiwa@gmail.com, or twitter @mantronieqscie. He writes in his own personal capacity.
History
I was born during the evolution of African independent states which came as a result of imperialism. The post-independence destabilization of multi-African countries led to the birth of nationalist leaders whose ideology was to wage war against the minority oppressor. This was in pursuit of self-serving power sharing, to attain a better percentage of Gross National Happiness.
Nationalist leaders then advocated for the single party state as the way to go. The African governments saw themselves as Messiahs of social, political and economic say-so. Nevertheless they genuinely sought to meet the needs and wants of the then slightly marginalized majority.
Thus, without an espousal on communist ideologies, African nationalists campaigned for the Stalinist-Marxist ideologies where the state amongst many other rights, dipped its fingers in the allocation and redistribution of land, resources, redistribution of income and consumption.
In pursuit of such ideology, there was a consensus by nationalists of the day to have absolute ownership of the means of production and also control the finances.
Unknown to the majority, the nationalist leaders played one-party politics to tighten grip on power. Such control would veto any hindrance to their accumulation of wealth at all costs.
Who has acquired
It is an open secret that amongst many others, Laurent Kabila, Joseph Kabila, Mobutu Seseseko, Robert Mugabe, Kamuzu Banda, Yoweri Museveni and Jacob Zuma, have personally acquired unparalleled, gargantuan business interests. Since authoritarianism is the current defining disposition of the neo-colonial states, the President's role in business has pioneered a greedy based political-cum-capitalist trend.
The point of departure is that the order of the day in this day and age is that the small vital part of the state captures the small vital parts of the economy. This benefits a few bigwigs in the state who then become the controlling stake holders in the economic front.
Where are we now?
In Zimbabwe a few political leaders are in control of the means of production. They acquired all the land, diamonds and gold mines. In South Africa, the Gupta-Gate scandal explains it all. Not to be left out is the rise of the South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa from being a mine worker, to a hard core trade unionist, to a shareholder and owner of the means of production. He has crossed over. This has alienated the worker even further. This has further led to the representational gap becoming bigger.
Anyways,
Capitalism's future
The current states are formulations of capital. Capitalism is everywhere and it has been spreading like a rash in the groin. What is the way forward? What worries the most is the fact that capitalism's best weapon is education. It would appear as if quiet a number of workers are allergic acquiring a decent education to fight capitalism. Probably the workers are heavily engulfed in fighting poverty and seeking a better life; and by the time one understands the capital system, it would have been too late.
The new face of capitalism is found in the governments. It becomes difficult to fight capitalism as those controlling the means production emotionally blackmail the majority by calling it either black economic empowerment or the redistribution of capital to the previously disadvantaged individuals.
Face of capitalism
Robert Mugabe and a few elites have taken over Zimbabwe for themselves. In South Africa, Jacob Zuma and the Zuptas lead the pack.
One ponders if capitalism can be eradicated in the near future. Where to from here? What is the future of the worker? Who will rectify state capture? Is it even state capture? Could it be capital manifesting its greediness by capturing the vital capital element?
As long as the worker maintains the status quo, the future is bleak for the worker. As long as the community remains deeply divided over the real gains of the #FMF #FeesMustFall, the worker will remain trapped in poverty quicksand!
Hope for the precariet class is vital.
For Zimbabwe, #ThisFlag, #Tajamuka #EndGame movements remain vital.
For South Africa, #FeesMustFall remains pivotal in fighting against capitalism.
@Senate House: #FeesMustFall Protest
The remnant shall return.
Hope lies in class solidarity.
Hope lies in class consciousness.
Hope lies in the new social movements.
There is always hope for the precariet class!
#FeesMustFall
#CapitalismMustFall
#Tajamuka
Down with capital!
Create equal opportunities for all!
Tapiwa Diamond Chadya is a rooted cosmopolitan, a GLU-Engage2016 Graduate, a Labour and legal Practitioner, a Researcher, and a Political Analyst-cum-Activist. He read law the University of KwaZulu Natal and is Researching towards an LLM. He concomitantly lives in the Natal Midlands and Johannesburg. He can be contacted on 27 (0)84 566 2756 or email him at diamondtapiwa@gmail.com, or twitter @mantronieqscie. He writes in his own personal capacity.
Source - Tapiwa Diamond Chadya
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