KwaZulu-Natal is the province to watch this election season as players like former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto Wesizwe Party shake up the system. The party released its manifesto, and it sure is something. Titled “The People’s Mandate,” the manifesto makes many promises, including conscription, which is a system governments use to require citizens to serve in the military for a certain period, more power for traditional leaders, and even yearly checkups!
The party wants a referendum on the Constitution, alleging that it currently does not represent all the people of South Africa. It would replace constitutional supremacy with parliamentary supremacy and give traditional leaders more power and say over the country’s laws. It also calls for every young person reaching 18 to serve a year of military service to “cultivate discipline and patriotism” in the youth.
Military service was compulsory for white men in South Africa during Apartheid and was abolished in South Africa in 1994. So it’s interesting that the party wants this to come back on a wider scale.
The party has promised to focus on recentering South Africa on African cultural and moral values that accommodate various spiritual beliefs and persuasions.
Education:
When it comes to education, the uMkhonto Wesizwe Party has promised fee-free education from kindergarten to postgraduate studies. It also plans to ensure that all students have access to breakfast, lunch, and an after-school meal. A unique aspect of its plan is including a mandatory subject in the curriculum focusing on African history, values, ethics, and morals, with “special attention to gender relations.” 👀
Health:
The MK Party says that if elected, it will implement the National Health Insurance (NHI) scheme as “an instrument to redistribute the resources in the healthcare system away from the expensive healthcare system.” It also wants to include traditional healers in the healthcare system. The party wants every South African to have a mandatory annual health check.
Economy:
The party wants to nationalise the South African Reserve Bank and end austerity measures. It has also said that it would nationalise all big banks and insurance firms to “break the power of private monopoly finance over the economy.”
The manifesto presents a mix of ambitious proposals and controversial ideas, promising a shake-up of the status quo. Whether you find its plans for conscription and constitutional changes bold or bewildering, one thing is sure: this election season is bound to be anything but boring. Buckle up, South Africa. We’re in for a ride.
Read the rest of the MK Party’s manifesto here.
