MKMVA ‘not copying EFF’ with visit to Zuma on Thursday
The Umkhonto We Sizwe Military Veterans Association (MKMVA) have announced that its national executive committee will visit to the home of former president Jacob Zuma in Nkandla on Thursday.
The visit will form part of the association’s 60th anniversary celebrations.
MKMVA national spokesperson Carl Niehaus says other MK veterans will also be paid courtesy visits at a later stage.
“This visit is part of our celebrations to the older generation of comrades of Umkhonto We Sizwe who are still with us, including and amongst others the Luthuli detachment.
“It is in this context that we will pay the first of these planned visits to president Zuma in order to honour him as our veteran chief,” says Niehaus.
He adds the association will also pledge its support in the face of the criticism levelled against him.
Niehaus believes the Constitutional Court ruling that compels Zuma to appear at the commission of inquiry into state capture is part of a planned attack against the former head of state.
The MKMVA is a known ally of Zuma’s.
“But very importantly, this visit is also the execution of a decision of the last national executive committee meeting of Umkhonto We Sizwe which resolved that the MKMVA NEC must visit president Zuma and pledge our support to him in the face of the constant attacks that he’s being subjected to,” Niehaus says.
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The visit will come almost a week after the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, his deputy president Floyd Shivambu, spokesperson Vuyani Pambo and former chairperson, Advocate Dali Mpofu had tea with Zuma.
Niehaus says the visits are not linked.
“This visit has got absolutely nothing to do with the visit that president Zuma received from the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters Julius Malema.
“What I can say is that we are happy where there is the possibility to mend divisions and to build bridges and if it is possible to build bridges for the sake of our democracy and solidarity amongst black political leadership, we’re in favour of it," he adds.
"Whatever was discussed in that meeting will have to be divulged by president Zuma and his guests but the symbolism of that visit of the possibility of mending divisions and building bridges is a powerful one.”
Listen to Niehaus below:
