Analyst: Bushiri meeting may hurt Shivambu’s role in MKP
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party had no choice but to speak out
against its secretary-general Floyd Shivambu’s visit to Malawi, to meet
fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri.
That is the view of political analyst Thabani Khumalo.
Shivambu is understood to have been hosted by Bushiri on Friday.
The Malawian pastor ran a church in Pretoria.
He and his wife were arrested for fraud but fled South Africa after they were released on bail.
READ: Justice Minister slams Shivambu for meeting Pastor Bushiri
Shivambu has been widely criticised for his visit with his party also distancing itself.
The MKP released a statement stressing that he travelled to Malawi in his personal capacity and without the knowledge of the party’s leaders.
Khumalo says the party needs to be seen as not condoning Shivambu's visit given Bushiri's history with the country.
"The party has been forced to issue a statement because there is an inseparable link between Floyd and the party.
"By going there, he has put the party into this dispute, and the party is therefore forced to take an action against him."
Khumalo says the former Economic Freedom Fighters deputy president may have also given the MK faction that is against his leadership ammunition.
Party MP Duduzile Zuma was earlier this year ordered to apologise to Shivambu following a social media rant in which she said he was the worst thing to happen to the party.
"He should have known that going there in his personal capacity would definitely impact on his position as a leader of the party.
"Now I think that his enemies within the organisation [might use that] as a weapon in its campaign to push him out of leadership."
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