Floyd Shivambu Launches Afrika Mayibuye Movement as New Political Party
In a move that was widely anticipated, Floyd Shivambu has officially announced the formation of the Afrika Mayibuye Movement as a new political party, with himself as its president.
The announcement was made following an extensive nationwide consultative process with various communities to gauge the need for a new political entity. Shivambu revealed that the Afrika Mayibuye Movement has already registered as a political party, in compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Commission Act of 1996.
Addressing the media, Shivambu stated, “The Afrika Mayibuye Movement is now officially recognized as a political party and is eligible to contest in upcoming by-elections. The abbreviated version of Afrika Mayibuye is ‘Mayibuye’.”
Shivambu’s decision to form the Afrika Mayibuye Movement comes after his dismissal as the secretary general of Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe party in June. Following his departure, Shivambu initiated the consultative process for the establishment of a new political party. His previous political involvement includes serving as the deputy president of the Economic Freedom Fighters for a decade.
The flag of the Afrika Mayibuye Movement bears similarities to that of the EFF, featuring the map of Africa, a black fist holding a spear, a star, and the colors green, red, and black. When questioned about the resemblance, Shivambu denied any intentional similarity, stating, “There is a distinction between the logos of the EFF and the Afrika Mayibuye Movement. I was involved in the conceptualization of the EFF logo.”
As the president of the newly formed Afrika Mayibuye Movement, Shivambu aims to bring a fresh perspective to South African politics and address the concerns of marginalized communities. The party’s official launch marks a significant development in the country’s political landscape, with Shivambu at the helm of this new movement.
