1. Newly elected MKP Secretary-General Floyd Shivambu emphasized his 20-year brotherhood with former EFF colleague Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, rooted in mutual trust beyond political differences.
2. While Shivambu and Ndlozi share ideological beliefs, they differ in political strategies, with Shivambu respecting Ndlozi’s independence and recent critiques of Jacob Zuma.
3. Shivambu is focused on strengthening MKP’s influence nationwide, prioritizing grassroots support over recruiting leaders from other parties.
Floyd Shivambu, newly elected secretary-general of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), recently reflected on his enduring friendship with former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) colleague, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, in an interview with SABC. Describing their relationship as a “brotherhood,” Shivambu highlighted their connection, which has spanned over two decades and is built on trust and shared experiences that extend beyond party lines. “He is my brother in every sense of the word,” Shivambu said, underscoring that their bond is not limited to political affiliations.
Shivambu acknowledged that while he and Ndlozi share many ideological beliefs, they sometimes take different political approaches. Ahead of the 2024 general elections, both MKP and EFF leaders have committed to avoiding negative rhetoric against others. However, Ndlozi recently criticized former President Jacob Zuma, describing his leadership as disappointing. Shivambu respected Ndlozi’s independence, noting, “This reflects Ndlozi’s individual political stance, which I respect. While we may differ on technical issues, our broader goals remain aligned.”
As MKP’s new secretary-general, Shivambu’s focus is to build the party’s influence by strengthening its grassroots presence rather than recruiting leaders from other parties. When asked about any potential effort to recruit Ndlozi, he stated, “I am not in the business of recruiting leaders from other parties. Our focus is on the people and on enhancing MKP’s presence nationwide.”
Shivambu clarified that MKP is not offering leadership roles to attract politicians from other groups but remains open to those who choose to join on their own accord. By prioritizing the expansion of MKP’s influence through grassroots support, Shivambu seeks to solidify the party’s foundation and ensure that its growth comes from the people’s support rather than from external political recruitment.