Uneven Distribution of Wealth through Political Manipulation as Expressed in J. M. Magaisa’s Poetry: A Moral-Philosophical Perspective on the Politics of the New Era

Nkwinika  Cordelia

doi:10.25159/2663-6697/10387

Authors

Nkwinika Cordelia University of South Africa

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2663-6697/10387

Keywords:

democracy, responsibility, accountability, poverty, moral obligation, protest poetry

Abstract

Most Africans in the democratic South Africa face challenges of extreme poverty and are subject to laws that were created for them without proper consultation and relayed to them in the form of the Constitution. This is contrary to the ideologies proclaimed during the struggle for liberation from colonial rule as well as the promises made by the politicians when canvassing for elections. This article serves as a reminder to the politicians who use political manipulation to get into power, and then forget about their promises and the Constitution of South Africa. Using the moral-philosophical approach and the text analysis method to examine the protest poems by J. M. Magaisa in Xikolokolo nguvu ya Pitori (1987), the paper aims at demonstrating that true democracy is “government for the people by the people” and it helps its citizens alleviate poverty rather than voting and then remaining in dire conditions while politicians amass wealth. Different areas of disempowerment through uneven distribution of wealth will be illustrated. Only the stanzas relevant to the discussion will be analysed. The findings, recommendations and conclusions will be provided.

References

Abedian, I. 1986. “Economic Obstacles to Black Advancement.” In Black Advancement in the South African Economy, edited by R. Smollan, 81–97. Johannesburg: Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-09384-7_6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-09384-7_6

Ayittey, G. B. N. 1992. Africa Betrayed. London: Macmillan Press.

Ayittey, G. B. N. 1999. Africa in Chaos. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.

Ayittey, G. B. N. 2011. Defeating Dictators: Fighting Tyranny in Africa and around the World. New York, NY: Macmillan.

Bhorat, H., and C. van der Westhuizen. 2012. “Poverty, Inequality, and the Nature of Economic Growth in South Africa.” Development Policy Research Unit Working Paper 12/152, University of Cape Town. Accessed August 16, 2022. http://www.humanities.uct.ac.za/sites/default/files/image_tool/images/36/DPRU%20WP12-151.pdf.

Benabou, R. 2000. “Unequal Societies: Income Distribution and the Social Contract.” American Economic Review 90 (1): 96–129. https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.90.1.96. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.90.1.96

Chiwome, E. M. 1996. A Critical History of Shona Poetry. Harare: University of Zimbabwe Publications.

Chiwome, E. 2003. “A Comparative Analysis of Solomon Mutswairo’s and Yvonne Vera’s Handling of the Legend of Nehanda.” In Sign and Taboo: Perspectives on the Poetic Fiction of Yvonne Vera, edited by R. Muponde and M. Maodzwa-Taruvinga, 179–90. Harare: Weaver Press.

Lewandowski, K. 2013. “Unequal Distribution of Wealth in China: Do Inconsistencies in Government Policies Play a Role?” Undergraduate Journal of Global Citizenship 1 (3): Article 1.

Lindert, P. H. 1986. “Unequal English Wealth Since 1670.” The Journal of Political Economy 94 (6): 1127–167. https://doi.org/10.1086/261427. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1086/261427

Magaisa, J. M. 1987. Xikolokolo Nguvu ya Pitori. Pretoria: J. L. Van Schaik.

Mankiw, N. G. 2013. “Defending the One Percent.” Journal of Economic Perspectives 27 (3): 21–34. https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.27.3.21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.27.3.21

May, J., V. Sulla, and P. Zikhali. 2016. “South African Poverty and Inequality Assessment Discussion Note.” Draft January 2016. Accessed August 16, 2022. https://kipdf.com/south-african-poverty-and-inequality-assessment-discussion-note_5ab198d21723dd329c6386be.html.

Mbiti, J. 1971. The Crisis of Mission in Africa. Mukono: Church Press.

Smuts, M. 1986. “The Growth of Black Business in South Africa.” In Black Advancement in the South African Economy, edited by R. Smollan, 23–30. Johannesburg: Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-09384-7_2. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-09384-7_2

Stiglitz, J. 1969. “The Effects of Income, Wealth, and Capital Gains Taxation on Risk-Taking.” Quarterly Journal of Economics 83 (2): 263–83. https://doi.org/10.2307/1883083. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1883083

Swanepoel, C. F. 1990. African Literature: Approaches and Applications. Pretoria: De Jager-HAUM.

RSA (The Republic of South Africa). 1996. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, No. 108 of 1996. Pretoria: Government Printers. Accessed August 16, 2022. https://www.gov.za/sites/default/files/images/a108-96.pdf.

Thembela, A. 1986. “Educational Obstacles to Black Advancement.” In Black Advancement in the South African Economy, edited by R. Smollan, 73–80. Johannesburg: Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-09384-7_5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-09384-7_5

Toomey, A. H. 2011. “Empowerment and Disempowerment in Community Development Practice: Eight Roles Practitioners Play.” Community Development Journal 46 (2): 181–95. https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsp060. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsp060

Vambe, M. T. 2003. “Spirit Possession and the Paradox of Post-Colonial Resistance in Yvonne Vera’s Nehanda.” In Sign and Taboo: Perspectives on the Poetic Fiction of Yvonne Vera, edited by R. Muponde and M. Maodzwa-Taruvinga, 127–38. Harare: Weaver Press.