By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
uMkhonto weSizwe liberation struggle veterans (MKLWV ) have distanced themselves from former president, Jacob Zuma, and his support for a newly formed political party.
Zuma held a press briefing over the weekend, where he announced he would cast his ballot for the newly registered uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, despite remaining a member of the ANC.
On Sunday, the MKLWV explained in a lengthy statement that the military wing of the ANC was disbanded in December 1993 because its stated objective of liberating South Africa had been achieved.
“MKLWV would like to make it very clear that the so-called uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party is not MK of OR Tambo. It is not MK of Chris Hani. It does not by any stretch of imagination represent the disciplined and dedicated cadres of the authentic Umkhonto we Sizwe,” said MKLWV.
“To add insult to injury Zuma goes on to quote the manifesto of MK completely out of context in order to authenticate the big lie that he is peddling.”
The military veterans said Zuma was misleading the public with his new MK party, which has no links to the work of MK.
They said Zuma’s conduct brought the ANC and Umkhonto we Sizwe into disrepute.
MKLWV said despite Zuma’s call for the people not to vote for the ANC, they are urging the public to back the ruling party in the polls next year.
MKLWV said Zuma violated several clauses of the ANC Constitution with his behaviour over the weekend.
They said by also choosing December 16, which was the 62nd anniversary of the formation of MK, Zuma was disingenuous.
They said the ANC Constitution was clear what action must be taken against those who violate it.
Zuma was ousted as the country’s president by Ramaphosa in 2018 amid wide-ranging allegations of corruption in government and state-owned companies during his presidential tenure from 2009 to 2018.
The ANC is expected to face fierce competition from the opposition parties Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), but smaller parties and independent candidates could be crucial in case of coalition negotiations.
Recent polls have suggested that the ANC could for the first time garner less than 50% of the national vote in next year’s election and may need to form a coalition government to remain in power.