Alternative Language of Development and Economic Empowerment

Abstract

This chapter is a rebuttal of theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of indigenisation and economic empowerment policies that are at the political platforms of governing authorities in Zimbabwe and South Africa. The argument is that mainstream understandings of ‘development’ that inform economic empowerment and indigenisation policies discussed in Chapter 5 are underpinned by Northern development discourse. Northern development discourse makes general claims to universal relevance and, consequently, turns a blind eye to contextual particularities and the diversity of social actors’ contexts. The chapter proposes alternative trajectories of development by introducing the notion of Southern development discourse, which pays particular attention to the role of local linguistic and cultural imperatives in mediating economic development, empowerment and social progress. It concludes by arguing in support of the affordances and promises that African linguistic diversity and cultural resources hold for creativity and innovation. These are considered as key drivers of sustainable economic development and social progress