MK Party’s Zwane Resigns as Secretary-General

Picture courtesy: (Freddy Mavunda/Sowetanlive) The MK party’s secretary-general Arthur Zwane, resigned on Monday mentioning an incapability to balance the workload of the position with his business interests.

(The Post News)- The UMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party has lost another prominent member, secretary-general Arthur Zwane, who resigned on Monday, saying he was unable to balance the workload of his position with his business interests.

In a letter to party leader Jacob Zuma, Zwane said his workload as secretary was beyond capacity.

“In the last two weeks, I have realised that the volume of work in my office is huge and surpassing my limits, mainly because I have other competing business interests that I’m pursuing,” Zwane said.

“I am humbled by the confidence you have in me, beginning with being DSG [deputy secretary-general] and later SG. I’ll be available to pass over to the newly appointed SG at any time,” he said.

Zwane stated that he will remain a member of the MK party and will be available as an adviser to the new leadership.

The party appointed Sifiso Maseko in his place. Maseko has been the party’s fourth secretary general since it was launched nearly six months ago.

Zwane took over the role just two weeks ago, when Sihle Ngubane left the party to become an MP, following a party directive that MPs could not hold positions on the national executive committee.

Ngubane replaces Thanduxolo Dyodo, who was dismissed following a series of internal party management issues.

Before joining the MK party, Zwane was an eminent ANC member in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal.

In 2020, Zwane was arrested and charged with allegedly opening fire on a security guard who was trying to enforce the use of hand sanitiser at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He was sworn in last week, along with 57 other MK members. It is unclear whether he will remain in parliament.

The MK party boycotted the first sitting of parliament on June 14 in protest at the election results, which Zwane claimed had misrepresented “millions” of votes.

The party’s spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, said Zwane would remain a member of the organisation and would be reassigned.

“Everyone is a volunteer, and people within the organisation, significantly with leadership, they get reassigned into areas that can use them even better.”

“As you would know, Sihle Ngubane, the previous secretary general, moved from the party to take up a role as chief whip. So, there will be a lot of movements and people being redeployed in various positions,” Ndhlela said.

Shortly after Zwane’s resignation, Zuma removed the party’s treasurer general, Danisa Zulu, from her position with immediate effect, without giving a reason, and replaced her with Menzi Magubane.

Meanwhile, Zuma is set to appear at an ANC disciplinary hearing on July 17.

He was suspended from the party in January after publicly saying he would vote for and support the MKP in the May 29 elections.

The former president is accused of violating Rule 25 of the ANC’s constitution by supporting another political party.