EASTERN CAPE — The UDM Buffalo City Metro mayoral candidate, Nqabayomzi Kwankwa, has embarked on a strategic tour of the Eastern Cape, beginning with a courtesy visit to a local kingdom to ground his political campaign in the region’s rich cultural heritage.
During the visit, Kwankwa was officially presented to the kingdom by United Democratic Movement (UDM) President Bantu Holomisa. Speaking on the significance of the engagement, Kwankwa emphasized that the visit was designed to honor cultural respect and heritage. He noted that grounding his mayoral bid in the traditions of the people is essential to effectively serving the communities he hopes to lead.
Beyond cultural engagements, the party is heavily focused on economic revitalization, particularly concerning the Dimbaza Industrial Park. Located just a few kilometers from the area, the 156-hectare site was originally established to bring jobs to the community and its neighbors. Despite previous promises to revitalize the zone, the park remains largely dormant.
Addressing this, Holomisa outlined the UDM’s intention to bring factories back to Dimbaza. He stated that the party intends to review the work done regarding the factories so far, specifically examining the amount of money spent on revitalization and revamping efforts to determine if they have been effective.
Furthermore, Holomisa stressed the importance of inclusive governance, noting that the kingdom must become an integral part of the development strategy. He argued that traditional leadership should be involved alongside various stakeholders, not just for the king’s area, but for the entire Buffalo City Metro (BCM) region.
Reflecting on the party’s broader electoral strategy, the UDM leader expressed satisfaction with their ongoing campaign efforts. Holomisa highlighted that the Democratic Movement has been campaigning extensively and is seeing positive responses, particularly in areas where they previously had no presence, such as Buffalo City. He also noted rapid growth in the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality, expressing confidence in securing more councillors in the forthcoming elections.
The political momentum is set to continue this weekend, as the party prepares to officially introduce its mayoral candidate in Buffalo City on Saturday.
