ATM wants Constitution revised to accommodate traditional leadership
The party, which is founded on religious and traditional principles, said the two institutions are overlooked in relation to governance.
African Transformation Movement (ATM) leader, Vuyo Zungula. Picture: African Transformation Movement/Facebook
DURBAN - The African Transformation Movement (ATM) party says it wants the South African Constitution revised to accommodate traditional leaders, in what it describes as a meaningful way.
The party, which is founded on religious and traditional principles, said the two institutions are overlooked concerning governance.
Party leader, Vuyolwethu Zungula, has thus week been electioneering in KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the upcoming polls.
He spoke to Eyewitness News in Durban on Wednesday.
"We are of the view, as the party, that getting traditional leaders as part of the decision-making bodies, will change the attitude of some of these politicians because some of them have a flawed approach in terms of their thinking, they think that they are more important than traditional leaders."
He called for the government to empower traditional leaders.
"A councillor is only elected for five years, but a chief remains a chief until death, so that is why we believe you can’t then give more power and more responsibilities to a person that has got five years in office and give fewer responsibilities and resources to the person that is a lifetime in office."