Mk Party Launches Jacob Zuma Lecture To Fight 'wasted Years Narrative'

uMkhonto weSizwe MK Party has announced that it will host the Inaugural President Jacob Zuma Lecture on his birthday on 12 April 2025 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

The partys Secretary-General, Floyd Shivambu , made the announcement at a media briefing on Monday 24 February.

The public lecture on President Jacob Zuma is important because we carry an obligation as the MK Party to contest the public narrative that his political life and contributions represent wasted years, Shivambu said.

Our President remains the most important asset in the life of the organisation, and we carry the revolutionary obligation to defend his politics, ideas and vision.

Zuma was South Africas President from 2009 until 2018. In 2019, the late finance minister Tito Mboweni sparked debate and criticism when he referred to this period as nine wasted years . President Cyril Ramaphosa also described it as a lost decade.

Despite the many lies and propaganda spread on President Jacob Zuma, he is the most accomplished head of state and president in terms of increasing life expectancy of ordinary people, building infrastructure and positioning of South Africa in the global space, Shivambu said.

He added that dignitaries from many parts of the world and from the African continent will attend the inaugural lecture. MK Party will announce the leader who will deliver the lecture over the next few weeks.

Guests representing royal houses, amakhosi traditional chiefs, religious leaders and business leaders will also contribute for the presidents programmes on education.

Zuma formed MK Party in 2023, declaring that he could no longer support the ANC of Ramaphosa. It played a key role in dipping the ANC below 50 in last years elections and emerged as the third largest party.