THE National Freedom Party (NFP) is out of next year’s general election.
This is because of internal leadership squabbles and failure to submit its financial statements to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).
NFP interim national executive committee Christopher Sibisi told Daily Sun on Wednesday, 11 October, that they expected the decision of the IEC to suspend them from participating in the 2024 elections.
“Yes, it's true that there are squabbles that are taking place in the party,” he said.
Sibisi blamed national treasurer and MP Shaik Emam for NFP’s suspension as he was supposed to submit the financial statements to the commission.
“Our treasurer failed to submit statements due to the reasons known by him,” he said.
Sibisi, also an MP, said the party would hold an elective congress from 15 to 17 December to elect legitimate leadership to restore the party’s integrity.
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But Emam fired back and accused Sibisi of being hungry for positions.
“The NFP is in shambles because of Sibisi. He wants power and doesn't care about the party. What he's saying is not a true account of the situation. He's the root cause of why the NFP is where it is today,” he said.
Emam claimed that the financials were ready a while ago but could not submit them because of Section 9 of the Political Party Funding Act.
The section requires that both the political party receiving the donation and its juristic donors (corporations and entities) declare such donations.
Emam said the party was bankrupt.
"NFP has no money. It's insolvent. The NFP is destroying itself because of leaders like Sibisi," he said.
Deputy chief electoral officer Mawethu Mosery told the SABC that the NFP was suspended because it wasn't clear who is the rightful leader of the party.
“We said to them we are unable to take instructions from any of the leaders that have come forward but also, we had an issue as far as submitting their financial statements for the funding that they receive from the commission. As long as they haven't submitted that report, we're not going to disburse further funds to the party,” he said.
The NFP was founded by former IFP chairwoman Zanele KaMagwaza-Msibi with other former IFP members.
Since her death two years ago, the party has been ravaged by factions with leaders vying for top positions.
