THE National Freedom Party (NFP) has taken radical steps to change the face of its leadership by setting a new age limit of 40 for incoming councillors.
Describing the move as one that will improve service delivery through ‘energetic’ councillors, NFP leader Zanele KaMagwaza-Msibi said in most cases, councillors ‘were caught-up between looking after their grandchildren and serving the people.’
‘Young people are naturally vibrant and will certainly be vocal in raising relevant issues affecting the electorate,’ said KaMagwaza-Msibi.
‘Lessons learned in the past dictates to us to do things differently. It cannot be business as usual when we see our people still battling to make ends meet. It breaks my heart when I see people living under appalling conditions because they cannot access state’s grants owing to them not having necessary documents. I raise this because I believe it’s a duty of a councillor to assist those individuals to apply for the required documents and not be torn between personal commitments and serving the people,’ KaMagwaza-Msibi said.
In the run-up to the 2016 local government elections, the party said it not only committed to a young and active leadership but ensuring gender parity.
‘Fifty percent of our councillors will be women. Women have proved to be focused and committed leaders compared to their male counterparts and I am of the view that they can serve our people exceptionally because they understand poverty better,’ she said.
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