Former president Jacob Zuma has thrown his party a curve ball ahead of next year’s election by urging ANC supporters to vote for a newly formed political party.

At a media briefing yesterday, Zuma announced his support for the controversially named uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.

The party has drawn the ire of the ANC over the use of the name of its former military wing.

Zuma said he will be voting for the MK party. A former UMkhonto weSizwe commander himself, Zuma urged other ANC members to do the same.

“I’m calling on ANC members to vote for [the] MK party so that we have the majority to change this country and rescue the ANC from the mess it has been put into,” he said.

Despite switching political allegiance, Zuma says he intends to remain a member of the ANC.

This will, in all probability, result in disciplinary action and expulsion – something the former president would have considered.

The new MK party is linked to disgruntled members of the UMkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association which has accused government of neglecting liberation struggle soldiers.

Zuma said there is no contradiction in his voting and campaigning for the MK party as the organisation has been formed by individuals aligned to the ANC.

The ANC in Zuma’s home province of KZN criticised the former president’s decision.

“Former president Jacob Zuma’s announcement that he will neither vote nor campaign for the ANC in 2024, is an attempt to sway voters from the governing party.

“It’s the duty of each party supporter to defend and protect the movement,” said ANC provincial spokesperson Mafika Mndebele.