By Thobile Jiwulane:
Jacob Zuma-led Umkhonto Wesizwe party (MKP)’s financial woes are deepening – the party announced cost-cutting measures that include a wholesale travel ban for all its members and structures with immediate effect.
Will Zuma stop travelling?
The travel ban would also affect the party’s top leadership, which includes President Jacob Zuma, the founder and president of the party and other national executives. Indications were that even the party parliamentarians may not be able to travel or the party to undertake its political tasks outside of its KwaZulu-Natal stronghold until its financial books are put in order.
The party treasurer-general, Mpiyakhe Limba, has issued a notice addressed to all national officials, the national high command, MK women and youth leagues, MK Student Movement and “other recognized structures of the organization” about the suspension of local and international travels.
A focus on critical financial issues
In the letter dated 17 September, Limba said the suspension of travel came into effect immediately. The suspension covered travel, accommodation, car hire and venue hire booked through and funded by the party until 20 October.
“This is to allow the Treasurer-General’s Office (TGO) to focus on critical financial processes like debtors’ management, refining the budget and appropriate allocation of funds to ensure that the organisation remains financially viable.
All travel requisitions that are currently in the system waiting have been automatically declined. Communication will be sent out via email to the requisitioners,” Limba wrote.
Infighting versus financial troubles
This as the party faced financial troubles that followed widespread political infighting among its members and a series of recalls of its parliamentarians. The MPs challenged their removal from Parliament that occurred months after they were sworn in as public representatives.
The party’s troubles came despite its great performance in the 2024 national and provincial elections, making it the third largest party in the country after the DA in the second place and the ANC on top. It made a strong showing in KwaZulu-Natal, where the IFP, ANC, DA, and National Freedom Party cobbled a coalition provincial government to sideline MKP.
Signs that the party was in financial dire straits began to show early this year when it could not pay the salaries of employees or forced staff to take salary cuts. Some staff sued the party for breach of contract after their salaries were cut by half by former secretary-general Floyd Shivambu, who has since been fired from the party and later established his own political home, Mayibuye Consultation.
But there is money for court battles
However, despite its financial woes, MKP continued to pay huge legal fees to initiate major court challenges against the state and target President Cyril Ramaphosa for litigation.
The latest matter was its recent failed attempt to stop the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System.
Although the travel ban was said to be temporary, questions had been raised as to whether MKP would be able to contest the upcoming 2026 local government elections, as its coffers seem to be getting depleted. The jury is out. – @NewsSA_Online
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