The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), founded by former president Jacob Zuma, celebrated its one-year anniversary at Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday.
Launched just months before the 2024 general elections, the MKP has swiftly risen to prominence, now serving as the official opposition in parliament. In KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), the party secured the highest number of votes but did not gain control of the province due to a coalition agreement among the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), African National Congress (ANC), and Democratic Alliance (DA).
The MKP’s emergence marked a pivotal moment in South African politics, playing a crucial role in reducing the ANC’s share of national votes to below 50% for the first time in history.
Zuma has described the MKP as a mission to “rescue the ANC,” the party he served for six decades before his expulsion. Speaking ahead of the celebration, MKP spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndlela reflected on the party’s unexpected rise. “Everyone thought we were playing games and wouldn’t become a force to be reckoned with, but history tells a different story,” Ndlela said.
The anniversary event featured an interfaith prayer session and speeches from the party’s women and youth structures. Zuma himself is set to address supporters later in the day, while a gala dinner on Monday will officially mark 12 months since the party’s formation.
The MKP’s journey underscores its growing influence in South African politics, transforming from a fledgling movement into a formidable opposition force in just one year.
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