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The reconstruction of political thought in the African National Congress Youth League
What should characterise the culture of a modern Youth movement and what should be the undertone of its revolution in the context of globalisation?
The African national Congress Youth League (ANCYL) is heading to its electoral congress but it is yet to robustly discuss its ideological leanings and the substance of the struggle for” Economic freedom”.
I, at this point, wish to express my support for the notion of the ANCYL being labelled and endeavouring towards being or becoming an African Socialist movement, solely because I am of the view that the peculiar economic, social, political, regional and historical context of this nation demands a careful balance and sensitivity to the various demands and pressures the country faces.
Accordingly I shall outline African socialism, as I understand and support it, as:
# sharing of economic resources in a traditional African way, as distinct from classical Western socialism.
# Uphold the four foundational cornerstones of African Nationalism, namely Freedom, Equity, Modesty and Solidarity.
This affirms the following principles:
1. Freedom—that is individual liberties, as well as freedom from discrimination and freedom from want;
2. Equality— before the law but also economic and socio-cultural as well, and equal opportunities for all without regard to age or gender;
3. Solidarity— dialogue, cooperation and forging unity across the diaspora of the wretched of the earth,
4. Modesty—self-respect by adhering to proper code of conduct, etiquette and social norms. Tolerance and complete rejection of self-aggrandisement.
In general, African Socialism entails:
* A mixed economy consisting of both private enterprise and publicly owned or subsidized programs of education, health care, child care and related social services for all citizens.
* An extensive system of social security, with the objective of defeating poverty and insuring the citizens against loss of income following illness, unemployment or retirement.
* Government bodies that regulate private enterprise in the interests of workers and consumers by ensuring labour rights, consumer protection, and fair market competition.
* Environmental protection laws; for example, funding for alternative energy resources and laws designed to combat global warming and secure water needs.
* Fair trade over free trade- the importance of economic ties with the Global South is crucial to South Africa’s collective development as opposed to one sided free trade with richest nations.
*A foreign policy that support the promotion of leftist movements in South America ,conservative Islamic movements in the Middle East, the protection of human rights, the defeat of terrorism and where possible, effective multilateralism.
* Defence of social justice, human rights, social rights, civil rights and civil liberties.
I am certain that the above principles are to bring about a new radicalism in the movement.
The political culture of a modern a modern youth movement shall be underpinned by the desire to:
> Strengthen the existing sound and equitable relations between the people and government
> Rally behind the economic wellbeing and continual development of the state
>Accelerate the advance towards the achievement of the goal of Economic freedom in our lifetime
>To defend, secure and entrench democracy
>The expansion and adjustment of the armed forces and;
> The building of a peaceful world united against terrorism, poverty, diseases and climate challenges.
To this end, the ANCYL upholds the view;
THAT liberty to pursue economic and social participation without regard to gender, race, and/or geographic dispersal is an unalienable right
THAT the African principle of consultation and consensus is a guarantor of everybody’s right to express their views on matters of governance without fear that a contrary view will be met with repression
THAT all people are free to pursue artistic expression and that freedom of speech must, at all times, not constitute blasphemy and bigotry
THAT all people, including the Palestinians, regardless of race, gender, or historical origins, have a right to peace, education, life, and to God’s greatest gift to men, FREEDOM
THAT the role of the government is to protect and promote those rights
THAT all citizens are duty bound to defend the freedom, sovereignty and integrity of the state.
THAT the government must safeguard the nation through maintenance of law and order, administration of justice and provision of national defence
THAT our constitution remains the best arrangement yet to secure a society that is inimical to moral decay and arbitrary rule
THAT African nationalism sanctions the defence and entrenchment of family values, social norms, free enterprise in a mixed economy combining social welfare and capitalism while emphasising stability, rule of law and development
THAT the best economic path is the one that pierces between social welfare and capitalism within the framework of private market economy in a system where the state intervene to maintain a balance between a high rate of economic growth, low inflation, low levels of unemployment, social welfare (child support grants, old age pension, student financial aid, small –medium enterprise development) and efficient public service
THAT it is compulsory for the government to provide an affordable education and skills development mechanisms, create a fertile environment for investing and make it easier to do business whilst also playing a central role in industrialisation
THAT the ANCYL cannot afford to harbour heterogeneous foreign ideologies and certainly African socialism must not take second place to any ideology (especial one that seeks a benign dictatorship of itself)
THAT South Africa must at all times prioritise her historic relationship with the Brazil, China, Russia (BRCS), the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Turkey. More importantly must seek and secure a strategic alliance with the Gulf Co-operation council (GCC), the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Indonesia whilst also striving to keep South America , Africa and to a certain extent Iran within its strategic depth through the doctrine of “Appeasement to none and cooperation with all”
Thus, African socialism will give the ANCYL the power to take South Africa back to the fundamental pillars of a nation state namely a strong defence, solidarity, intellectualism, unity, science and technology, education and high morality.
Aurangzeb Thabethe
Chairperson :African National Congress Youth league(Umdoni zone)
Secretary general :Young Communists league of South Africa (Umdoni Region)
Follow on twitter @AurangThabethe
Facebook. Aurangzeb Thabethe
