Newly appointed uMkhonto weSizwe Party Secretary-General Floyd Shivambu has clarified his recent U-turn on former President Jacob Zuma.
This statement comes in light of Shivambu and several others being prominent in the movement for Zuma’s removal following Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s investigation into the multi-million-rand upgrades at his Nkandla homestead in northern KwaZulu-Natal. In an interview with the SABC, Shivambu claims that they were, in fact, misled regarding Zuma.
“You would know that, during President Zuma’s tenure, there were a lot of falsehoods that were spread by the media. We fell into the trap and joined into that nonsense of saying everything is wrong with President Zuma and calling him into a Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. But when the revelation came on the state capture, we realized that there is nothing that has been alleged that President Zuma was doing wrong. There is nothing objectively representing state capture from his side but we fell into the trap. These are the politics from which I am purposefully departing.”
Meanwhile, Shivambu says the party will not recruit members from other political parties.
This follows the recent departure of some EFF leaders, including Advocate Dali Mpofu, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, and former ANC deputy chairperson and Premier in KwaZulu-Natal, Willies Mchunu.
Speculation is rife that EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi is also set to jump ship.
Shivambu, however, says they are not in the business of recruiting members from other political parties, insisting whoever wants to join the party will do so at their own free will.
“I am not aware of any leaders from the EFF or other political parties who will be joining the MK Party in the future. However, if they choose to do so, we welcome them because MK is a progressive platform. We do not actively seek to recruit incumbent leaders from any political organization; they are free to join us on their own accord. At MK, we believe in saying, ‘asibabizi bay’ size’ (we don’t bring them; they come on their own). Therefore, to delegitimize or disparage their political decision to join MK is simply beneath us.”
