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KaMagwaza-Msibi urges NFP leaders to unite, take party forward

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The leader of the National Freedom Party Zanele KaMagwaza-Msibi has urged her party leaders to unite and take the party forward. She briefly spoken to her party members as it launched its election manifesto in Vryheid in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday.

KaMagwaza-Msibi was led by party chairperson Vikizitha Mlotshwa. She received a warm welcome from her party members. Some clad in the party’s orange colours, ululated and cheered her.

The party apologised to its members for its failure to participate in the 2016 local government elections, because of the late payment of registration fees.

The NFP says economic development and job creation are among its top priorities. Mkhwanazi says the country has enough policies that should be implemented.

“In relation to economic development the NFP is saying the Department of small business must be cascaded down to all districts to an extent that it goes to all constituencies because it must serve the interest of small businesses. It must be able to work hand in hand with the small business even in rural areas. As the NFP, we’re saying SEDA, NYDA, even SARS must be available in every district because we cannot be advocating for young people to engage in small business yet we do not make the ground to be fertile for such.”

NFP in favour of  land expropriation

NFP says it is in favour of land expropriation without compensation. It added, however, that people should first be given the skills to use the land productively.

Mkhwanazi says community banks should be established to support people in developing the land. “However as the national Freedom Party we differ in approach because we understand that to have our land back there are prior preparations that have to be in place. As the NFP we believe that water harvesting must be a priority. We cannot be having our land and be having drought. Therefore as the NFP we are saying that water harvesting must be a priority, we are saying as the NFP there must be community banks because of the hard reality that given the fact that we want our land back but still our people are not credit worthy.”

Leadership battle

KaMagwaza-Msibi suffered a stroke in 2014 and this is said to have led to recent party infighting. The party says it has regrouped after years of infighting over a leadership battle.

NFP spokesperson Simo Mkhwanazi says although some senior party leaders have left the party, they are hopeful they will do well in the upcoming elections.

Supporters have praised party president KaMagwaza-Msibi for the work she has done for communities in northern KwaZulu-Natal.

Supporters say her absence is noticeable as there has been lack of service delivery in their communities.

“We have Creches and roads because of Magwaza. She has done a lot for us. We’re devastated by her absence because she left a big void in our community; because we feel her absence as nothing is happening now in the way of service delivery in the community,” says one supporter.

Another one adds, “She’s built clinics and roads for us and we even had water because of her. We hope our vote as the youth will make a difference because our councillor is not doing anything for the community. He does not care about community needs besides his own needs.”

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