- Three political leaders held separate opening ceremonies for the same shopping centre to win the support of influential traditional leaders.
- Former ward councillor says he fought for the mall 13 years ago, while ANC leaders are now taking credit they don’t deserve.
The official opening of the iNkosi Simingaye Shopping Centre at ward 1, kwaXimba Village in the west of Durban became a highly political fight between former President Jacob Zuma and ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile, including the Mayor of eThekwini, Cyril Xaba.
The shopping mall had three separate events attended by different leaders in one day, just to flex their political power and to gain the support of the most popular traditional leader of the biggest ward in the City of Durban, iNkosi Simingaye Ximba.
Earlier, the event was organised by the City of eThekwini for Mayor Cyril Xaba to come and officially open the shopping centre.
He came with his executive council team and successfully declared the shopping centre fully open.
Soon after he left, the uMkhonto weSizwe Party member of the Provincial KZN Legislature and former ward councillor of ward 1 in the area Musa Mkhize brought Jacob Zuma and the MKP High Command team.
Zuma was met with great excitement, and the operation of the mall came to a standstill. Shoppers ran to him with excitement.
He was then given a chance to deliver a speech and remove the curtain to officially open the shopping centre.
iNkosi Simingaye Ximba also went with him and showed the same smile he had during the visit of Mayor Xaba earlier on.
Later on the same day, a third event was held again, this time it was the arrival of Deputy President Paul Mashatile who came with former ANC KZN Chairperson and currently MEC for Transport and Human Settlement Siboniso Duma.
They were also warmly welcomed by iNkosi Simingaye Ximba and other traditional leaders.
MKP member of Legislature Musa Mkhize who brought Zuma told Scrolla.Africa that the ANC leaders were just being opportunistic because he is the one who fought for the construction of the shopping centre when he was still a ward councillor under the ANC 13 years ago.
“At that time, Zuma was still the President of the country, and we fought for this development to take place, and I am glad that finally my dream has come true. Well, I’m not surprised by ANC leaders rushing to take the glory they never fought for because they are confused, and this ward is like a Province, it is able to change the political landscape of the biggest region of eThekwini and that of the Province,” said Mkhize.
Mashatile on the other hand said that they are going to work closely with traditional leaders to bring more development to kwaXimba.
The three separate opening ceremonies showed how important this rural area has become for political parties trying to win support ahead of future elections.
Ward 1 in kwaXimba is seen as crucial because it has many voters who could swing the results in eThekwini and KZN.
The traditional leader iNkosi Simingaye Ximba played it smart by welcoming all the political leaders equally, showing he wants development for his people regardless of which party brings it.
Pictured above: The inauguration of the shopping center in Durban’s largest Western rural ward became a highly contentious political event, fiercely debated by UMkhonto weSizwe Party leader Jacob Zuma and ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
Image source: MKP/KZN ANC
