by Mkhululi ChimoioJOHANNESBURG — A Zimbabwean politician based in South Africa, Ian Beddowes recently launched his first book entitled Philosophy & Class Struggle.Published by Zimcom Publishers the book focuses on political studies, basics of dialectical materialism and of socialist ideology.
“This book focuses on really socialist politics and it is there to help people understand genuine socialist ideology. We work closely with South African Communist party, British Communist party and also belong to African networking forum,” he said.
Beddowes also highlighted that his book will educate masses of Zimbabwe into how socialism can influence a better state despite differences on ideologies of different political parties in the country.
“I am very much aware that we have different political parties pushing for different ideologies but at this stage Zimbabwe needs a socialist movement which will channel and execute a revolutionary move which will help set up a democratic state as we have a problem of dictatorship in the country.
“People are continuously denied their rights through the partisan government being led by the octogenarian and malevolent man Robert Mugabe,” he added.
His main subject, Marxism, highlights on economic and socio-political worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centres upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism.
The book further explains how Marxism operates in the following extract:“Marxism views the emergence of a socialist system as a historical inevitability that arises from the obsolescence of capitalism and the corresponding social revolution, where private property in the means of production would be superseded by co-operative ownership.
“The hypothetical system of socialism would succeed capitalism as the dominant mode of production when the accumulation of capital can no longer sustain itself due to falling rates of profit in real production relative to increasing productivity.
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“A socialist economy would not base production on the accumulation of capital, but would instead base production and economic activity on the criteria of satisfying human needs — that is, production would be carried out directly for use.”
WHO IS IAN BEDOWES
Ian Beddowes is a former intelligence officer with South Africa’s ANC military wing uMkhonto weSizwe. He firstly worked for ZAPU in London in 1985 before being deployed to Swaziland.
He is currently serving as secretary for the Council of Elders in the South African province of Zapu and his second book Principles of Communist Organisation is also ready for printing and is already looking for funds for its publication.
