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The task at hand

Decade after decade has seen prominent Pan Africanists come and go, preaching and spreading the same message; Black Consciousness, economic and political emancipation and anti imperialism. Credit to them. It is through their hard work that many of us became aware of the origin and nature of the exploitation that we have had to endure over the centuries. However, words become meaningless when they are not accompanied by action. Future generations will be not so kind to us if we fail to take in the consciousness of our situation, perceive the contradictions in the international economic system, make a tactful and intricate revolutionary plan and, within the shortest time possible, seize political authority and take charge of our destiny. But first, what is to be done?

An observation into all previous revolutions, most preferably the Bolshevik revolution, reveals that foremost a theory, or a sort of ideology, has to be developed. For the struggle, as Friedrick Engels observed, would be on three fronts; political, economic and theoretical. Even Lenin, in 'What is to be done?' remarked;
  
Without revolutionary theory there can be no revolutionary party, that is a political party capable of overthrowing a ruling class by revolution and holding state power.

The most basic requirement, therefore, is an intellectual theory to provide a basis and guideline for the political movement. On the political front, a movement has to be formed to act as the vehicle with which to steer the revolution. A vanguard party, made up of individuals whose profession is revolutionary activity, has to be immediately established. It is this organization that will provide the theses, antitheses and critiques on possibly all economic blueprints to be used by the foreseen state. A forum will thus be created for intellectual debate, and this will only serve to sharpen the movement.

As trade unions and workers' organizations never actually relieve the workers from alienation and exploitation, so does conformity to the world economic system only serve to weaken Africa and strengthen the bourgeois imperialist position. A carefully planned economic blueprint has to be formulated, with emphasis on heavy industry, large scale agriculture and production of capital goods. The ultimate ambition, needless to say, is rapid industrialization and immediate breakaway from Western capitalist slavery.

The so formed political movement must comprise of disciplined revolutionaries, no matter their number. They must work tirelessly for the Africanist course and prepare to crush imperialism and its agents. But perhaps the greatest temptation which has to be overcome is compromise. Primarily the interests of the Africans, and generally the workers of the South, is what is paramount. However, infiltration, especially from the African bourgeoisie, the ruling classes and other agents of the West may stand on our way. Any deviation from the Africanist position, it must be noted, will only weaken the movement and strengthen the ongoing exploitation. We cannot and must not work within the system; we must replace it with another.

Therefore, as we express our dissatisfaction with our leaders, with the system and with our never ending poverty, let us remember that all this can disappear if we want to. Industrialization and high living standards will be achieved. Above all, our lost dignity will be restored, and never again will one society develop at the expense of another.

    

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