Global capital's 21st century repositioning : between COVID-19 and the fourth industrial revolution on Africa

"What happens at the interface between Afrocentricity and COVID-19 is cause for wonder in a world that is anxious to short circuit global solidarity by trampling Pan-Africanism. Revolutions, including the Fourth Industrial Revolution, are rarely contextualised within the framework of Pan-Africanism and Afrocentricity even when they are celebrated as beneficial to the world. Interfacing Afrocentricity, COVID-19, Pan-Africanism and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, this book teases out the profound challenges of the 21st century. Calling for African solutions premised on African solidarity, the book critically engages the contemporary technological solutionism and technological evangelism that undergirds the Fourth Industrial Revolution and efforts to find vaccines for COVID-19. Unflinchingly interrogating these issues, the book is useful for scholars and activists in education, African languages, sociology, social anthropology, political science, history, religious studies, development studies, communication, medical sciences and legal studies."--Back cover Cover 1 Title page 2 Copyright page 3 About the Authors 4 Contents 12 Preface 16 Chapter One - “Nature’s” Role in 21st Century Revolutions? COVID-19, the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Repositioning of Global Capital 18 Introduction 18 Global capital is squeezing and destroying its opponents: The metaphysical dance of global capital 19 Which humanity will benefit after humans have been turned into transhumans and posthumans? 23 Chapter outlines 28 References 34 Chapter Two - The Preparedness of Africans for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and for COVID-19 36 Introduction 36 Theoretical framework 37 The relationship between revolutions and pandemics 39 The 4th Industrial Revolution 41 Africa’s preparedness for the 4th Industrial Revolution 42 Effects of the Atlantic Slave trade and colonialism and the development of the capitalist nations 43 The neo-colonial era 46 Africa in the 4th Industrial Revolution 48 Africa and its preparedness for disease control and management 49 Africa’s preparedness for COVID-19 50 The politics of medical approval 51 What is the way forward for the Africans? 55 Education to support Africa amid the 4th Industrial Revolution 56 Conclusion 57 References 58 Chapter Three - Vaccinations in Africa: The Paradox of Human Rights and Human Experiments 62 Introduction 62 Obligation to international instruments 63 The law and protection of human rights 64 Knowledge gathering and the African quagmire in health 67 WHO agenda and funding 70 Vaccination programmes and coverage 74 Vaccinology and COVID-19 vaccine fast-tracking 75 Indigenous Knowledge Systems 81 Final thoughts 84 Conclusion 86 References 86 Chapter Four - COVID-19 and Southern Africa Development Community (SADC): A Litmus Test for Regional Solidarity 94 Introduction 94 SADC regional response to COVID-19 pandemic 98 Socio-political and Economic Regional Security under COVID-19 104 The efficacy of sanctions in the COVID-19 era: the case of Zimbabwe 115 Covid(ized) political rivalries and democratic space in the pandemic era 116 Conclusion 120 References 122 Chapter Five - Inclusive Contextual Approach in the Fight Against the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case for Ubuntu and the Zimbabwe Constitution 128 Introduction 128 Putting the pandemic into perspective 131 Constitutional inclusivity and the unhu/ubuntu model of nonsegregation 135 The elderly and the inclusive contextual cultural paradigm 137 The Karanga well-being in light of COVID-19 142 Conclusion 144 References 146 Chapter Six - Implications of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and COVID-19 on African Education Systems: A Case Study of Namibia 152 Introduction 152 Development of world industrial revolutions 153 overview of the impact of 4IR in Africa 153 The outbreak of COVID -19 155 The mystery behind the origin of COVID-19 155 The Impact of COVID-19 on the African education systems 156 The Namibian education system response to COVID-19 pandemic 156 Effects of 4IR and COVID-19 on African education system 158 Implications of 41R on the Namibian education system 160 Lessons to learn from the 4IR and COVID -19 pandemic in Namibian education system 160 Conclusion 162 References 162 Chapter Seven - Shona Culture and a New World Order: Fissures, Strategies and Mitigation in COVID 19 Era 168 Introduction 168 Contextualising COVID-19 in Zimbabwe 169 Statement of the problem 172 Methodology 173 Theoretical framework 173 Current strategies used to combat COVID-19 in Zimbabwe and the resultant fissures in Shona culture 174 Possible mitigation strategies in tandem with Shona culture 180 Conclusion 183 References 184 Chapter Eight - Dark Humour and its Implications: A Semiotic Reading of Comic Clips on the COVID-19 Pandemic on Shona Culture 188 Introduction 188 Background to the study 189 Theories of humour 192 Contextualising the COVID-19 lockdown in Zimbabwe 194 Redefining social media messages and the paradox of COVID-19 195 Presentation of media messages 198 Analysis of the social media messages 201 Lack of adequate information 201 Socio-economic effects of the coronavirus: Lack and want during the pandemic 204 Effects of lockdowns: Isolation and loss of social routine 205 Beyond the laughter: Implications of comic media messages 207 Conclusion 208 References 209 Chapter Nine - Fourth Industrial Revolution and COVID-19: An Agenda for African Languages 212 Introduction 212 Contextualising the nexus between Fourth Industrial Revolution and the COVID-19 pandemic 213 Methodology 216 Insights from related literature 217 African languages as the lifeblood of Africans 219 The efficacy of African languages-informed responses 225 Research-Dictionaries 231 Conclusion 233 Recommendation 233 References 234 Chapter Ten - The Healing Practitioner has Retreated Back to the Trenches: Healing and Spirituality During COVID-19 238 Introduction 238 Definition of key terms 239 Methodological considerations 242 The background of faith healing 243 The practitioner and modes of healing 247 A theological consideration to the pandemic 251 Major findings and conclusion 254 References 255 Chapter Eleven - Exploring African Women and Girls’ Experiences During the Coronavirus Pandemic: A Gendered Framework Perspective 262 Introduction 262 Women as frontline workers in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic 263 Women as economic providers 264 Poor access to basic hygienic amenities, antenatal care and reproductive health service 265 Increased responsibilities 268 Increased violence against women and girls 270 Arguing for a Gender Lens to protect and empower women during the COVID-19 pandemic 272 Addressing the issue of GBV during the Covid-19 pandemic 274 Conclusion 276 References 277 Chapter Twelve - Fourth Industrial Revolution and the Emergent Electronic Commerce – Convergence of ICT and Financial Sectors in Africa and Lessons from other Continents: The Question of Jurisdiction 284 Introduction 284 Jurisdiction, the internet, and e-commerce 286 Divergent schools of thought on jurisdiction in a virtual world 289 International law on jurisdiction and e-commerce 290 European jurisdictional approaches on e-commerce 292 US jurisdictional approaches on e-commerce 294 Regulatory frameworks on e-commerce in Africa 297 The role of regional organisations on e-commerce in Africa 300 The digital divide and some constraints on e-commerce in Africa 301 The 4th Industrial Revolution and its ramifications for Africans 302 Conclusion 304 References 305 Chapter Thirteen - Theorising vulnerabilities in a context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and COVID-19 308 Introduction 308 An overview of country experiences: United States, Germany and France 311 African experiences 311 Finding solutions to the unemployment crisis caused by the 4IR and Covid-19 313 Discussion 320 Theorisation on vulnerability 321 Conclusion 325 Acknowledgement 326 References 326 Chapter Fourteen - Re-imagining Teaching and Learning in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for African Higher Education Institutions 332 Introduction 332 Conceptualising e-learning in the context of the Covid-19 333 HEIs’ readiness for remote online teaching and learning 335 Students’ perceptions of remote and online teaching 336 Challenges faced by African HEIs 341 Limited access to internet and electricity 342 Inappropriateness of the e-learning mode to some practical courses 342 Compromised remote examination process 343 Lessons learnt and implications for the HEIs 344 Need for investment in technological innovation 345 The need for public-private partnerships and collaboration 347 Aggravation of already existing inequalities 349 Quality assurance is imperative 351 Disaster capitalism 352 Concluding remarks 354 References 355 Back cover 360