The Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) Party has recalled its Secretary-General Floyd Shivambu, following his Easter weekend visit to Shepherd Bushiri’s church in Malawi.
The party then announced that he would be moved to parliament. However, it did not say who would take over the critical position he had briefly occupied for almost seven months after leaving the EFF.
Against party constitution
The decision to remove him was announced after a meeting of the national high command in Durban on Tuesday afternoon.
Reading a statement on behalf of party leader, former President Jacob Zuma, the national chairperson of the MK Party, Nathi Nhleko, said the trip by Shivambu to Malawi was against the constitution of the party.
“Based on the deliberations by the National Officials, it was reaffirmed that the trip was not an officially sanctioned programme of the organisation or the President, which therefore goes against the constitution of the party. The MK Party and its leadership has been approached by members of various sectors of civil society and has taken due consideration of the gravity of this matter.
“Due to the serious nature of this matter and its implications for the party, its image, values and principles, the President and the National Officials were left with no other option but to act swiftly in addressing this matter,” Nhleko said on behalf of Zuma.
Responded to electorate
He added that consequently, as a responsible organisation accountable to its electorate and the broader society, they had to act.
“The National Officials have come to a decision to redeploy Commander Floyd Shivambu as the Secretary General of the party, and redeploy him to the National Assembly. We believe that his redeployment will strengthen the MK Party caucus as the Official Opposition. This as Commander Floyd Shivambu carries a wealth of experience as a former member of Parliament.”
Zuma himself later said after the trip to Malawi by Shivambu they received a lot of letters from various sectors who were “unhappy” and complained. He said they did not act because at the time they were “busy” with other party matters.
Shivambu accepted move
“We have taken that decision and there is nothing wrong,” Zuma said after responding to a few questions from the media.
Shivambu spoke briefly after the announcement. He said he has accepted his redeployment with humility and has learnt from his mistakes. And he has previously said he was in Malawi on party business. But he later decided to honour an invitation from Bushiri to attend the church services.
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