Afrikan Capitalism!

On his Bantu Biko Memorial lecture, SA President, Thabo Mbeki briefly touched on "crass materialism at all cost" (the new found Capitalism) in our country, which is affecting the ethical essence of our people, including our leaders.

However, instead of blaming the capitalist system (on the basis of self enrichment)... we perhaps need to redefine Capitalism - as Afrikans. I do not see anything wrong with the system itself, but with the way we embrace it.

The point I am trying to make here is: Wealth creation (basis of Capitalism), is not necessarily wrong, in fact, it is necessary for any development - both by Government and Private sector - to take place. However, the challenge for us Afrikans (including our leaders), is NOT TO EMULATE Western Capitalism, which is entrenched in, inter alia, "individualism", "selfishness" and "crass materialism."

For us Afrikans, our economic development (underpinned by Capitalism), cannot be similar to that of the West. Our basic human character is deep-rooted into the principle of UBUNTU... and in my view; we ought to define our own Capitalism based on this principle.

Thus, we cannot begin to claim economic emancipation when we have brothers and sisters who cannot fulfill their basic human needs while we're in the ivory towers of, inter alia, SUV's, Plasma TV's, Johnnie Walker Blue's of this world.

Although, there's naturally nothing wrong with such towers, I am of the view that, our economic development and self-upliftment ought to be something else.

And it is that something else that will ensure that our leaders have high moral standings because it will be going back into our roots... Development in the spirit of UBUNTU!