Members of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party in KwaZulu-Natal are calling for the suspension of the party’s provincial and regional leadership, accusing them of ignoring members’ grievances and concerns. They have also raised objections to the appointment of newcomers to key positions within the party.
Image: DOCTOR NGCOBO Independent Newspapers
Disgruntled members of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) in KwaZulu-Natal are calling for the suspension of the party’s provincial and regional leadership, accusing them of ignoring members’ grievances and sidelining early supporters of the organisation.
The group has issued a seven-day ultimatum to party leader Jacob Zuma to intervene and suspend the leadership structures.
The decision was taken at a meeting of dissatisfied party members held in Durban last week.
Among the issues raised by the members is what they describe as the growing deployment of newcomers into key positions within the party.
Bongani Cele, the former organiser for the party in the eThekwini region, said members agreed that the provincial structure should be suspended because their concerns had not been addressed.
Cele said representatives from all 11 MKP regions in KwaZulu-Natal attended the meeting and expressed frustration over what they believe is the leadership’s failure to take members’ grievances seriously.
He added that a petition outlining their concerns was handed to Bonginkosi Khanyile, who is responsible for recruiting new members for the party.
"He was in the meeting and we gave him our grievances letter to hand over to the president. We are expecting answers in seven days," said Cele.
Cele warned that the party could face difficulties in the upcoming local government elections if the issues raised by members remain unresolved.
Traditional healer Andile 'Mzimb'ukhalimali' Dlamini also voiced concern over what he described as the marginalisation of founding members of the party.
"There are people from the ANC holding senior positions. These people joined after the MK Party elections. Why didn't they join the MKP after the elections? People who were at the forefront before the elections are being ignored.
"Personally, I don't care for positions because I am busy. What concerns us is that people present during inception are being left out. Our aim is to build the party. We do not want to destroy, that is why we are saying let us talk," said Dlamini.
Dlamini said his public support for the MKP had come at a personal cost.
"As a traditional healer I was not supposed to go public about joining MKP but I did it as I believed that it would change people's lives. My patients who are ANC, IFP and DA left me," he said.
He added that another traditional healer, Bhongolwethu 'Khehlelezi' Mzozo, faced similar consequences after publicly declaring support for the party.
According to Dlamini, Mzozo was forced to close his business, Mzo's Lifestyle, after losing customers.
Attempts to obtain comment from MKP national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela were unsuccessful at the time of publication.++