The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has officially filed six charges against its former Secretary-General, Floyd Shivambu. This marks a significant escalation in the internal conflicts within the party. The charges were brought by the party’s disciplinary committee.
The allegations against Shivambu include:
Gross Negligence: He is accused of ignoring official communications since January 2025 and refusing to issue appointment letters to provincial structures, which harmed regional operations.
Abuse of Office: He allegedly created unauthorized task teams in several provinces without national approval, causing internal division.
Leaking Confidential Data: Shivambu is charged with disclosing private disciplinary matters at public events, breaking party rules.
Factional Complicity: The party claims he allowed allies to use intimidation, including displaying firearms, to silence rival groups.
Legal Negligence: He is accused of failing to mount a legal defense in a court case brought by expelled member Mary Phadi, which damaged the party’s reputation.
Conflict of Interest: The most serious charge alleges he collaborated with Phadi in a coordinated effort to destabilize the party from within.
Notably, the formal charges do not mention Shivambu’s controversial trip to Malawi. That trip, to an event hosted by fugitive prophet Shepherd Bushiri, was the public reason given for his dismissal in June. Its omission has led to speculation that the internal issues run much deeper.
The charges have intensified what some call a “civil war” inside the MKP. Some provincial leaders are calling for Shivambu’s suspension and a full disciplinary hearing. His planned move to Parliament has also been stalled, and his name is absent from the latest parliamentary lists.
Reactions within the party are divided. Some see the charges as a necessary step to restore order, while others view them as a politically motivated attack.
Shivambu has publicly stated he accepts his removal as a “disciplined member.” However, insiders suggest he may defend himself at his disciplinary hearing. The outcome of this process will likely shape both his future and the stability of the MK Party.