2725 Reflections of Ubuntu capacity on the applicability of ujamaa intersections model on socio-economic development in Tanzania – A literature review

Description

Meinrad Haule Lembuka, Academician, The Open University of Tanzania, meinrad.lembuka@out.ac.tz meinradlembuka@gmail.com

Abstract

The review examines how the Ubuntu Capacity model may apply to the Ujamaa Intersections Model in Tanzania’s socio-economic development. Ujamaa, rooted in the African Ubuntu philosophy, emphasises collective community goals across social, economic, health, and political spheres, drawing from history, ecology, and cultural values. Tanzania’s collective values, which are based on holistic approaches, have origins in pre-colonial times and reflect Ubuntu principles like solidarity, cooperation, democracy, care, human dignity, Uhuru, and freedom. To implement the Ujamaa Policy framework, Dr. Nyerere revitalised the Ujamaa Intersections Model (UIM) to bolster all development activities, supporting universal education, health policies, and villagisation. The UIM, comprising interconnected community sectors such as family, extended family, neighbourhood, local leadership, ecology, spirituality, and broader social elements, effectively addressed issues like racism, tribalism, social injustice, colonial dependency, illiteracy, and high mortality. Despite these challenges, Ujamaa became a tool for promoting Ubuntu-driven agendas across social, health, education, economic, military, and political sectors. Several African countries- including Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Senegal, Malawi, and Zambia- adopted the Ujamaa policy framework for development. However, Structural Adjustment Policies (SAP) in the 1990s affected Ujamaa’s ability to guide development in Tanzania. Nonetheless, Ujamaa preserved Ubuntu values and sustained the African development legacy through community safety networks, cooperative societies, rural infrastructure, social services, equality, solidarity, improved health, and higher literacy. Ujamaa is a development approach rooted in an African philosophical framework, distinct from European or African socialism, and offers relevant solutions to current challenges on the continent. It, however, requires a revisit from an Afrocentric perspective.

Keywords: Africanism, African Ubuntu, African philosophy, Nyerere, Tanzania, Ubuntu developmental framework, Ujamaa Intersections Model, Ujamaa Policy

Article type: Original research

Review type: Double-blind