PUDEMO leadership race begins
BABANE – The race is on! People’s United DemocratMic Movement (PUDEMO) has begun the road to congress over the week where branches within the organisation began the nomination process. The process will determine whether incumbent President Mlungisi Makhanya retains his position or a leader will emerge.
The organisation has over 55 branches and they are all expected to nominate candidates that would represent them in the higher structure of the political party. The National Executive Committee (NEC) is the ultimate body that gets it mandate from the general assembly.
Information gathered through sources revealed that Makhanya was nominated to square up with veteran Mandla Hlatshwayo, in the position of president. Another interesting contest would be in the position of Secretary General (SG), which is currently held by Wandile Dludlu. Nominees in the SG position include Sikhumbuzo Phakathi, current National Organiser Penuel Malinga and Mancoba Chavez Nxumalo.
There was no immediate information on other positions but other branches were expected to continue nominating today and throughout the week.
After the branch nominations the process then transfers to the regional structure of the organisation before reaching the national congress.
Sources revealed that over 300 delegates were expected to attend the congress, with more than 50 invitees. The sources further revealed that a budget of over E1.2 million has been set aside for the national congress this year.
RUNNING SMOOTH
“The process has been running smooth and the branches have made their choice. Even though the process is still ongoing but I can assure you now that the race will be between Mlungisi and Mandla for the presidency post and Wandile will face-off with Phakathi, Penuel and Chavez in the position of SG. I want to also mention that it seems everyone was nominated and one of the most glaring was that some of the branches nominated Mlungisi to deputise for Mandla,” said the source.
When called for comment, Dludlu confirmed that the nomination process had begun in the branches but refused to comment further, stating that the election process was out of the hands of the NEC.
“From last week and this weekend branches have been nominating. They will continue till the next weekend. Regions will consolidate their nominations during a Regional General Council (RGC) and then the nominations will be known; for now, the branches preserve their information. Secondly, as SG of the incumbent leadership, we cannot comment on that process because it’s independent and a prerogative of branches and it must be respected and accorded the necessary independence and integrity. Mine would be to help you understand this internal democracy process of PUDEMO, a very sacrosanct process and progressive culture of the movement. It has kept PUDEMO together in our diversity for the last four decades notwithstanding the constant vicious attacks by the State over the years,” said Dludlu.
PUDEMO remain banned in the country after government proscribed the political party as a terrorist organisation following spates of bombings around the country in 2008.Over the years the organisation has been hosting its General Congress in South Africa (SA) and unconfirmed reports suggest that even this year, the conUS$100 gress will be held in Witbank, SA due to its legal status in the country.
Veteran Mandla Hlatshwayo declared in a prior interview that he would make himself available for a leadership position during the political party’s elective congress.
Hlatshwayo was responding to questions emanating from information gathered, that some members of the organisation had requested that the leadership be rearranged in preparation for the national dialogue and to counter alliances of convenience by other political parties.
The sources revealed that a secret clique of influential members in the organisation, mostly founding members, agreed that there was a need to reinforce the leadership structure in the face of the growing competition from new formations.
INTERNATIONAL STRUGGLE
“I intend to make myself available to PUDEMO branches to be part of the leadership that can continue to shape PUDEMO to play a leading role in the now international struggle, to restore the rights of emaSwati to choose the government that would work for them. Unlike other parties, in PUDEMO, it is the branches that make determination of what skills the organisation want at the party congress. I will be making myself available to build PUDEMO to be the party that not only delivers democracy but makes good on the promise of good governance and development. PUDEMO leadership under President Mlungisi is calling upon emaSwati to stand up and liberate the country for the betterment of every citizen. Leadership is a collective, and it is never a one man or one woman show. A leader with progressive dreams for the country wants unity, wants dialogue, and wants peace, wants investments, and wants to give hope to the youth that challenges will be addressed and that the temporary darkness will pass,” said Hlatshwayo.
The organisation’s Constitution explains that the once an Independent Elections Commission (IEC) has been identified, the NEC loses any power over the process until a new leadership is in place.
Article 14 of the Constitution reflects that a Central Executive Committee shall be elected directly for positions by the general congress. The Central Executive Committee shall within one month of the elections form the governing body of the PUDEMO which is the NEC.
Elections are conducted every four years on the basis of one person one vote.