/ 23 July 2004

IFP plots comeback

The Inkatha Freedom Party is to launch a rejuvenation process at its annual conference in Ulundi by strengthening the position of party secretary general.

Party leaders have their backs against the wall after a disastrous performance in the April elections, when the IFP lost control of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government and suffered a further decline in national support.

Party officials this week emphasised that a major review of the IFP’s performance was under way to ensure that mistakes were not repeated and that the party was better prepared for next year’s local government elections.

All the top positions in the organisation will be up for grabs at the party’s conference, which will run from Friday to Sunday. These include the position of secretary general, which was downgraded to an administrative post after the last incumbent, Ziba Jiyane, stepped down in 1998.

In theory the IFP presidency is also up for grabs. However, it is certain to go to Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who has not been challenged since the party was founded in 1975.

Despite the IFP Youth Brigade and South African Democratic Student Movement Organisation raising the issue of Buthelezi’s successor in the media in recent years, they are unlikely to be brave enough to broach the subject at the weekend.

The 76-year-old Buthelezi told a Youth Brigade rally earlier this month that the debate about rejuvenating the IFP should not be about age, but about passion for the party.

Those who no longer had a passion for the organisation but were in it for career reasons should leave.

”We need to ensure that in our party there are no people who lack passion for politics and that our ideas and policies never become stale.”

Youth Brigade leader Sibusisiwe Ngubane told the Mail & Guardian the organisation could not identify anyone who could lead the party better than Buthelezi.

”If there are issues about incumbents, people are free to raise them this weekend,” Ngubane said.

Deputy national chairperson Musa Zondi said the national council would table a constitutional amendment to transform the position of secretary general from its current administrative status to a more powerful position with political clout. It would again be the second most influential position in the party hierarchy.

The current secretary general for administration is MZ Khumalo, who was central to the ”Inkathagate” scandal of 1991 and a co-accused in the trial of apartheid defence minister Magnus Malan.

The secretary general’s job will be to build and drive the party machine, particularly in preparation for the local government elections.

Zondi is among the leading candidates for the post as he commands respect among both the Inkatha youth and the older generation of party members. He said he was uncomfortable with being projected as the future IFP leader.

Political analyst Proteas Madlala said that, in line with party tradition, it was unlikely there would be major leadership changes.

”The IFP resolves issues behind the scenes and anyone who wants to contest positions would be advised to step down before the elections,” Madlala said.

Another vexing issue likely to be discussed at the conference is that of the IFP’s political alignment. The party joined a ”coalition for change” with the Democratic Alliance just before this year’s elections and it is expected that the pros and cons of the relationship will be discussed.

The IFP’s relationship with the African National Congress has grown increasingly strained over the years, culminating in Buthelezi being ousted from President Thabo Mbeki’s new Cabinet after serving two terms as home affairs minister.