Zuma says, “We have seen that we haven’t reached where we wanted to reach. People amongst us turned against us and became white people. They arrested us for nothing, doing the same thing that was done by the apartheid government whereas they call themselves freedom fighters. They have reversed all the good things we have done and that is why people have decided to build this strong and powerful organisation. It’s like Noah’s ark that will save black people.”
VIDEO | Former President Zuma addresses MK Party supporters:
Members of the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party arrive at former President Jacob Zuma’s homestead in Nkandla, northern KwaZulu-Natal, for a campaign rally.
Party supporters are singing songs praising their leadership, especially that of Zuma.
MK Party Secretary General, Sihle Ngubane, says the launch of election trucks signals the intensification of the party’s election campaign after winning court battles.
“Today is a big day for MK. We are launching our biggest truck ever, the 30 tons, 12-metre branded truck for the MK which can take about 30 people on stage at the same time. And we are launching the four branded vans as well which will roam around the country because our focus now is the campaign. We are done with court, these cases, and everything. We are coming here to launch these trucks which will roam around the country and assist us in strengthening our campaign.”
Church leaders in KwaZulu-Natal say they will be playing their part in ensuring a peaceful election on May 29th.
KwaZulu-Natal, which has the second largest number of voters after Gauteng, is said to be a highly contested province.
The province is also known for its political violence with many areas being identified as hotspots.
Church leaders under the KwaZulu-Natal Council of Churches (KZNCC) met with Prime Minister of the AmaZulu nation, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi in Durban.
KZNCC Executive Chairperson Bishop Nkosinathi Myaka elaborates: “The main reason for the request of the meeting was to humbly ask the Prime Minister to secure the day with King and also for the engagement with the King and also craft the collaboration between the KZNCC and church leaders and his Majesty the King and all traditional leaders.”
Meanwhile, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi says the meeting with the church leaders came at a right time.
“The meeting was in a moment of prayer as church leaders in KwaZulu-Natal pray for the peaceful election, the prayed for the King and the Royal family and they pray for KwaZulu-Natal government. It was a very fruitful meeting with really important issues that were discussed and I am very humbled to be part of this meeting which has come out with concrete plans which will impact on the Royal family but which will need further deliberations with His Majesty, the King.”
Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in KwaZulu-Natal chairperson and premier candidate, Thami Ntuli, says voters have the power to change the current government through their votes.
Ntuli was speaking during the launch of the IFP’s provincial election manifesto in Ulundi yesterday.
Persistent rainfall did not deter scores of IFP supporters from attending the provincial manifesto launch.
Supporters wearing the party’s regalia braved the chilly weather and sang songs that support the party’s current leadership.
Ntuli says should the party be voted into power in the upcoming general elections, youth development programmes will be prioritised and small businesses will be financially supported.
“Under these 15 points I have presented, the IFP government will make sure that the economy is in the hands of the local people. We will make sure that small business people have a market to sell their products and make sure spaza shops are run by the people of KZN. No foreigners who should run township businesses.”
Voters encouraged to recall leaders
Inkosi Zuzifa Buthelezi, the son of the late founder of the party, Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi, didn’t mince his words and called on voters to re-call leaders who fail to perform their duties after being elected.
“The most important thing that we are here for today is to go out and vote. What we need to know is that no matter how prominent the person is, we are all equal when it comes to the power of voting, we can elect leaders and we can also remove them. Therefore, if our elected leaders are not doing what we asked them to do, we must stop listening to them, it is important for people to know their power.”
Supporters call for employment
IFP supporters who attended the launch say they want to see the youth being empowered with job opportunities instead of depending on social relief grants.
Cebo Zikhali says, “The government of the IFP must create a plan to stop load shedding because those people who are running businesses depend on electricity. Secondly, I want to acknowledge those people who have graduated and having qualifications. As from the 29th going forward those people must be prioritised. ”
“Those companies that have been closed must be re-opened so that job opportunities will be created. We must stop this R350 (grant) that don’t (doesn’t) help people. Instead, young people must be educated and skilled,” says Sbonile Dlamini.
Hope & unity
Meanwhile, IFP President, Velenkosini Hlabisa, called on party members to spread the message of hope and unity throughout the country.
“Each and every person must go back home to his community and to his neighbours and spread the message of hope, the message of peace, the message of rebuilding the KwaZulu-Natal.”
Mbalula says, “We lost in Bloemfontein and we will not appeal, and we are here again for two things which is common law and the trademark. We say this trademark belongs to us and it doesn’t matter when we registered it, no it doesn’t. It belongs to us. This MK belongs to the ANC and thieves do as they please here and they steal our things and run with it whereas they know that it is ours.”
He also criticised former President Jacob Zuma’s leadership while he was part of the ANC.
“Today they talk about many things they failed to do while they were in power. They put us in big troubles, and we are in this mess because of them. They call us thieves. Today we have the Zondo Commission which has revealed many things, and they thank us by forming a new political party,” Mbalula adds.
Meanwhile, Zuma who backs the MK party says the ANC lacks strong arguments in the case.
“They are frustrated now because they don’t have strong arguments in court and we are still using the same courts we have been using previously. They didn’t know what to say in court. I heard their legal representative failing to express themselves because they don’t know what to say. The thing is that everything is easy and they win whatever is in court, even if they bribe they win, things have changed now. We are MK now and nobody will touch us!!!!!”
VIDEO: Mbalula maintains the name ‘MK’ belongs to ANC:
