APA-Durban (South Africa) Former South African president Jacob Zuma says his newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party will reclaim land from white farmers and return political power to traditional leaders if it wins this year’s general elections.
Addressing hundreds of supporters west of Durban on Sunday, Zuma said an MK would make “better use” of the land by reclaiming it from those who currently hold large farms, mainly whites.
“Our land will return. We will put it to better use,” the former president said.
He said an MK administration would ensure that traditional leaders are handed back their authority, which has been taken away by successive governments over the years.
“You see, parliament is no longer the same. Back then, traditional leaders were in charge of it,” Zuma said.
He added: “When parliament was built, traditional leaders held higher authority, and politicians used to report to traditional leaders.”
He called on MK supporters to register numbers to give the party the two-third majority votes it needs in the 2024 general elections to get it into government.
Zuma is expected to lead the newly formed party into general elections scheduled for later this year.
Traditional leaders who attended Sunday’s rally pledged support for Zuma.
NM/jn/APA