Ailing NFP leader fights on
NATIONAL Freedom Party (NFP) leader Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi yesterday said she would return to her parliamentary seat after the elections. This was despite her visible frail health, and signs that she had not fully recovered from the stroke she suffered in November 2014.
Independent Media spoke to KaMagwaza-Msibi as she was going around Ulundi, Zululand, giving away food parcels in an attempt to woo voters before elections tomorrow.
Asked if she was confident her party would retain its seats in Parliament, and if she was still prepared to occupy her seat, kaMagwaza-Msibi said: “Yes, yes”. When asked how that would be possible, she looked to her party leaders to help her respond.
Speaking on kaMagwaza-Msibi’s behalf, the NFP’s Ulundi chairperson, Bethwell Nxumalo, said she was fit enough to return to Parliament. He said the NFP hoped to win six seats or more.
“She will return to Parliament as the party’s president, although she might not retain her deputy minister’s position. But she does not have a problem with being an ordinary MP.”
Nxumalo said she would participate in parliamentary debates as she had started to regain her speech.
“God will restore her speech and make her fit again, as you can hear her greeting people,” said Nxumalo.
When she arrived in a silver Audi at her Thokoza village’s informal settlement, carrying pockets of beans, frozen chicken and rice, she was welcomed with ululation.
In response, she repeatedly said: “I am also well, thanks”.
Supporters expressed their admiration for her. She stepped from the car and took a few steps with the assistance of someone holding her hand.
The Deputy Minister of Science and Technology has hardly been seen in public since her stroke at her Newcastle home nearly five years ago.
Whenever she appeared in public, such as at party gatherings, she would greet supporters and let her daughter, Gugu Gumede, deliver a speech on her behalf.
Nxumalo said the party was in pain after losing its secretary-general, Nhlanhla Khubisa, who defected to the ANC at the weekend.
Nxumalo accused Khubisa of being bitter because he was not on the party’s election list.
“The ANC has many people more educated than him. He might spend close to five years in the ANC before being deployed to a position. If he’d remained with us, we’d have given him a position within the party since he is an intelligent person,” said Nxumalo.
He said the NFP was gearing up for the 2021 local elections to reclaim the Zululand District Municipality from the IFP.
God will restore her speech and make her fit again
Bethwell Nxumalo NFP Ulundi Chairperson