Cape Town – Internal structures of the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party have repeatedly expressed concern about leadership appointments, alleging that loyal party members are being overlooked in favor of newly joined high-profile politicians.
According to SABC News, the MKP National Strategic Committee highlighted issues with the party’s direction and leadership in a leaked letter addressed to party leader Jacob Zuma.
The committee criticised the “parachuting” of outsiders into key positions at the expense of long-standing, capable members.
Isaac Leshona, chairperson of the MKP Strategy Committee, said that while the party is not in crisis, improvements are needed, including better conflict resolution and leadership promotion from within.
“This is a call for internal criticism. It is not, you know, a call for war or for anything. We’re just saying that these are the things that are happening. And the repercussions of having people parachuted to leadership positions, we see a failure to properly engage the problems, and we see dismissals left, right and centre, mainly because people do not have the proper information to deal with such problems,” the report quoted chairperson of MKP Strategy Committee Isaac Leshona as saying.
Recent high-profile appointments include former EFF members Floyd Shivambu and Mzwanele Manyi.
Last month, Zuma warned members that internal divisions could hinder the party’s progress.
Speaking at a memorial service for six MK members who died in a taxi accident en route to his Nkandla home, Zuma urged members to put aside their differences and unite.
MK Party President Jacob Zuma speaking at the memorial service of 6 party members who died in a car accident two weeks ago while heading to Nkandla for an event to honour Zuma’s first wife Sizakele Khumalo pic.twitter.com/dXtiZbiVjp
— News Live SA (@newslivesa) September 14, 2024
He also said during the same event that his party will not hold a national elective conference to elect new leaders, citing concerns over potential sabotage by spies linked to the ANC.
Zuma said that the current leadership is strong and that a conference could weaken the party.
He said that the decision not to hold a conference is a strategic choice to prevent destabilisation, IOL reported.
“There are things that we have deliberately done as uMkhonto (MKP), like the issue of holding an elective conference. Our enemies are very smart – we will call the conference, and they will raise funds to support their candidates and destabilize our organisation, so we will not have a conference.
“I once asked other comrades why is the conference important? Scientifically speaking, what is the importance of having an elective conference? Why must we elect a new person after a few years even though the current person is still a good leader, I do not think having a conference is a good idea,” the report quoted Zuma as saying.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
