Durban - NFP leader Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi, has warned party members against factions and gate-keeping as the party prepares for its elective conference in December.
In a speech read on her behalf by the provincial chairman at a provincial rally at Ntshawini, KwaDukuza, on Saturday, kaMagwaza-Msibi said party members should be wary of gate-keeping and the use of money to create divisions.
“This is one of the serious causes of concern for me as your leader, because I have witnessed this trend accelerating over the years. I’ve seen morals degenerate simply because people have chosen money over principles,” she said.
KaMagwaza-Msibi, who suffered a debilitating stroke in 2014, has kept a low public profile, and was last seen in Nquthu at a voting station on election day in August.
In the speech, KaMagwaza-Msibi also said the party should not engage in factionalism, as that would have serious implications for the NFP.
“Camps and factionalism has created so many problems and actually brought us where we are today. We found ourselves grappling with one challenge after the other because of factionalist tendencies. I therefore urge you not to repeat the same mistakes.”
The beleaguered party has been embroiled in factional politics since kaMagwaza-Msibi took ill in 2014, and that saw two groups of leaders taking each other to court last year.
The failure of the party to contest municipal elections has not helped matters, with treasurer Xolani Ndlovu expelled and other leaders suspended after they allegedly did not co-operate with a forensic investigation into the party’s finances.
While KaMagwaza-Msibi said the party needed revival, she, however, said the failure to contest elections had been unexpected. “I still hold a view that those responsible must be punished for what they did.
“Bringing the party into disrepute is a serious offence,” she said.
KaMagwaza-Msibi remained confident the weekend rally would help the party’s fortunes and was a step in the right direction.
“I’m glad our leaders have finally seen fit to hold a rally of this nature, but, comrades, we must not be naive and think that by holding this rally we are out of the woods.”
The NFP, she said, needed programs that would take it forward.
“Your programs must be in touch with the people. Don’t formulate programs where item after item in your agenda is discussing individuals.”
KaMagwaza-Msibi also called for following of proper processes in establishing branches ahead of the December elective conference.
“Let’s disband parallel structures. Actually those responsible for parallel structures must account,” she said, adding that unity efforts in NFP should not create further factions,” she said.
Provincial deputy chairman, Erickson Zungu, said last week: “We are ready to go to that conference. We want to revive the party.”
Daily News