Year: 2017
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The absence of a sound and robust African political ideology grounded in Africa‘s traditional \nand cultural philosophy of hunhu/ubuntu has led to Africa‘s continued subjugation and \ndomination by both Western and Eastern bloc nations. Africa has been compelled to choose \nbetween capitalism or socialism which are both foreign ideologies. The author strongly \ncontests the above view and provides an alternative ideology which is in all respects African \nand grounded in Africa‘s richest philosophy of hunhu/ubuntu. Gutsaruzhinji, both as a \nphilosophy and political ideology is entrenched in traditional African cultural ideals rooted in \nthe hunhu/ubuntu philosophy. It is the author‘s contention that gutsaruzhinji is an authentic \nAfrican philosophy, tested in Zimbabwean politics, deserves to be assigned both regional and \ninternational status. The author believes, it is time for ubiquitous philosophy that can be \nemployed to extricate Africa and its people from perpetual poverty and inequalities \nperpetrated by colonialism. Gutsaruzhinji focuses on effectively meeting the social and \neconomic needs of all citizens who had been marginalised by colonial apartheid development \ntrajectory. This will immediately see the abandonment of both capitalism and socialism as \nguiding ideologies in African social, economic and political development. Gutsaruzhinji was \nnurtured throughout the pre-colonial period and is evident in such traditional practices as \nnhimbe or majangano or letseka, where free labour and service was given to enable every \nmember of the community to get food and be self-sufficient. The merit of this thesis is that it \nbrings a new African political thought and consciousness needed to continue embracing \nhunhu/ubuntu values which are key to the survival of African Philosophy and good \ngovernance. The two important vehicles of African identity and survival, hunhu/ubuntu and \ngutsaruzhinji are set to continue defending the African intellectual territory and political \nlandscape to eternity. This thesis is intended to also assist in extricating and blending African \nphilosophies like Ujamaa, Consciencism, Negritude and Humanism from the label ―African \nSocialism and bond them with hunhu/ubuntu philosophy, making them an integral part of \ngutsaruzhinji polity. Africa will for the first time adopt and use its own political ideology to \nbetter the livelihood of its citizens.
Author: Kudakwashe. Bhasikiti
Language: English
Subfield: Philosophy
Field: Arts and Humanities
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Inyuvesi Yakwazulu-Natali
OpenAlex ID: W3010297665