He said the problems of today demand comrades who are experienced and focused, people who have gone the extra mile to show they can actually lead society.
Nkangala ANC REC member Mduduzi ‘Mswati’ Nkosi believes in regional leader Speedy Mashilo as somebody who can take society to the promised land – by first uniting the ANC.
Mswati said they want Mashilo in the “chairperson’s office” and as a region they support the view that Mashilo – one of their own – should be supported to go to Chè Masilela House in Mbombela.
He said Mashilo’s work in the Nkangala region speaks for itself and will definitely contest at the Mpumalanga ANC’s 13th elective conference and in doing so Mashilo “won’t be contesting an individual but an ANC position”.
Mswati answered questions over WhatsApp messenger as one of the NdlovuChirwa lobbyists in Nkangala and said that the preferred slate of Mandla Ndlovu, Mashilo, Muzi Chirwa, Lindiwe Ntshalintshali and Mandla Msibi is “a mixture of seasoned and credible elders who are humble and generous to ordinary people out there and who can unite Mpumalanga”.
“They come with a vast knowledge of governance and political understanding,” adding they support leaders who will not have personal issues with those branches that would have not supported them.
Few weeks ago Mashilo signalled his availability to go contest in the province, saying his branch and the Nkangala region that he leads will nominate him for a position and “I will definitely contest”.
Mashilo while celebrating his 55th birthday on 2 January 2020 in KwaMhlanga dismissed rumours that he actually wants to be the provincial chair, saying there has never been a time when he said that.
“All my life I grew up in the ANC. I have been taught discipline, that as a member you first must be nominated and rumours that I want to be the chair, deputy or treasurer are unfounded because I have not yet spoken out about positions,” he said.
Mashilo on that day added that they expect an ANC that is “hardworking, principled, stable and reliable” after congress
“It hurts us to see the ANC being taken by individuals for selfish benefits.
“The challenges of the country are now huge and require men and women that are principled and that understand the ANC,” Mashilo said when he spoke to 013NEWS on the sidelines of his birthday celebration on 2 January.
Mswati said they will lead “a clean campaign” for the collective that will serve with Mashilo “without character assassinating others as positions contested are for ANC, not individuals”.
“I was lobbied by my ANC branch to support comrade Speedy Mashilo for the chairperson’s office working with Lindiwe Ntshalintshali in the secretariat’s office, with Mandla Ndlovu, Mandla Msibi and Muzi Chirwa forming part of the collective.
“The reason behind these names is because these seasoned comrades are focused on unity, focused on renewal, then they will definitely focus on renewal in the struggle for radical socio-economic transformation,” said Mswati.
Both Ndlovu and Ntshalintshali, who are acting in their positions of ANC provincial chairman and secretary respectively, are believed to be aligned with national secretary Ace Magashule while Premier Refilwe Mtshweni-Tsipane sides with deputy president DD Mabuza.
The Mpumalanga PEC is also divided, others supporting Tsipane who is not serving in any ANC structure or position and those who support the acting Ndlovu.
Ndlovu and Tsipane will face off at the upcoming provincial congress probably in March 2020 for the position of chairperson.
(edited by MLM)
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