By Doreen Mokgolo
Umkhonto Wesizwe founder Jacob Zuma has entrusted Floyd Shivambu with building the party in all provinces.
Shivambu’s position as national organiser effectively makes him everybody’s boss and means he only reports to Zuma directly.
The former deputy president and founder of the EFF has been given far reaching powers and responsibilities in the MK party.
- Shivambu is head of policy development and research.
- Head of political education.
- Head of monitoring, evaluation and governance responsible for performance management of Members of Parliament and other public representatives.
- Cadre deployment.
- Establishment of MK party structures and leagues.
- Represents MK party in IEC structures.
Shivambu said his duty was to build MK into the main black opposition party in South Africa.
“We need a new movement that will liberate our people; all black and progressive forces must unite into a common agenda.
“This thing of small and unviable parties is not sustainable for the future of black people in South Africa. If we have multiples of these they end up being fiefdoms of individuals,” he said.
Shivambu said MK president Jacob Zuma approached him in October with a proposal to unite black political parties before the MK party was officially announced in December.
“I suggested that we first focus on the [29 May] elections and revisit the discussion later,” he said.
At Thursday’s press briefing, Zuma said black political parties must come together like white political parties had done.
“I want you to look at the MK party as a solution to the problems of this country, like the ANC that liberated the people of South Africa – but not the ANC of Ramaphosa.
During the briefing, the party announced its top eight high-command leaders, with Zuma as president and former Western Cape judge president John Hlophe as his deputy.
Former minister of police Nathi Nhleko is the national chairperson.
Zuma said those deployed in parliament would not get leadership positions in the party. This means Shivambu might have sacrificed his salary as an MP along with the perks that come with the job.
Pictured above: New MK golden boy Floy Shivambu takes a bow during the MK briefing.
Source: Doreen Mokgolo
