By Akani Nkuna
The newly launched Afrika Mayibuye Movement party says that it is not entirely against cooperation with other prominent political parties to address challenges faced by ordinary South Africans, but would still embrace its wishes to exist, be self-sufficient whilst fiercely contesting for elections.
With some of the prominent leaders of the Mayibuye Movement coming from the African National Congress (ANC), Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), Mayibuye spokesperson Sydney Baloyi dismissed elements of bad blood, saying the party is open for collaboration to address citizens’ challenges.
“South Africa is at the kinds of cross(roads) today that does require political organisations to collaborate in trying to bring solutions to the people. Mayibuye does not exist as anti-ANC, anti-EFF or an anti-MK Party movement,” Baloyi told Inside Politics.
“We exist on own strength, but we are not looking at these parties as our enemies or our opponents. So, I cannot rule out the possibility of having collaborative discussions or collaborative efforts as long as it benefits the people of South Africa.”
This comes after the party concluded its two months consultation process led by former MK Party Secretary General, Floyd Shivambu who now serves as Mayibuye Movement’s president. Baloyi says they heeded the call by South Africans to establish a party to fill the policy and service delivery gaps left unattended to by the current political organisation.
“The people of South Africa said to us that Mayibuye should exist as a movement that will address the multiple crisis that confront them. The country is at a turning point because for years a lot of our people and communities have repeatedly raised the same demands for basic service delivery and are continuously ignored. Those are the gaps that Mayibuye plans to fill,” Baloyi added.
Baloyi also said that they were content with the feedback and the entire consultation process in enabling them to identify areas which needed urgent focus whilst also ensuring that every group’s opinion was incorporated.
“It cannot be true that the consultations were rushed. These consultations were strategically planned for the entire country. We consulted traditional leaders, faith-based organised leaders and we went to consult other specific stakeholders groups including business leaders,” he said.
Shivambu addressed the media on Friday in Midrand, Gauteng, outlining the outcome from the consultation process where prominent figures and ordinary citizens alike were consulted about the establishment of a political organisation and its posture within domestic politics.
Reaffirming the movement’s ambition to be a significant player in shaping policy, Shivambu emphasised that the party will contest next year’s Local Government Elections with the launch of its Restoration Manifesto, outlining key policy positions.
“The restoration manifesto also identifies who are the motive forces in the revolution that we are in pursuit of. It also deals with the roles and functions of Afrika Mayibuye Movement but it also provides a clear position of Mayibuye on the immigration question. It also speaks to the ideological character of Afrika Mayibuye Movement,” said Shivambu during the launch on Friday.
INSIDE POLITICS