The Inkatha Freedom Party’s Youth Brigade has called an urgent meeting to discuss reported discontent with party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
KwaZulu-Natal Zulu language newspaper Isolezwe reported on Thursday that the IFP youth wing was lobbying for Buthelezi to step down and allow a younger leader to head the party, which had seen its support dwindling in the past few years.
Youth Brigade president Pat Lebenya-Ntazi said an urgent meeting had been scheduled for next week where the reported unhappiness with Buthelezi would be discussed.
According to reports, the unhappiness was sparked by the party’s dismal performance in last week’s general elections.
”We know that our comrades are unhappy with the results we got during the elections, but we do not believe that the solution will be found by fighting among ourselves,” she said.
Lebenya-Ntazi said she did not believe Buthelezi should be asked to step down, adding that his term of office would end in July this year.
”Leaders are chosen during elective conferences. Our conference will take place in July this year,” she said.
Addressing the media last week, Buthelezi, who had been IFP president since the party’s formation in the 1970s, reacted angrily to a journalist’s question about whether he would continue as president.
”I’m not going to answer that question, because you’re not a member of the IFP,” he retorted.
Buthelezi said the IFP’s poor performance in KwaZulu-Natal was due to poor performance by local councillors.
IFP national organiser Albert Mncwango said it was not true that the youth wing wanted Buthelezi to step down.
”If there had been calls for the resignation of Prince Buthelezi, the IFP leadership would have been aware of them. Indeed, we would take them very seriously,” said Mncwango.
He said IFP top leadership met on Wednesday night to discuss the fallout from last week’s election.
‘The meeting was preceded by a large discussion forum attended by representatives from the party structures and addressed by the IFP national chairperson Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi,†he said.
Mncwango said the IFP would hold its annual general meeting and youth and women’s brigade conferences later this year.
”These will be the proper platforms for voicing whatever reservations there may be about the party’s leadership. The conferences will also provide forums for discussion about the future direction of the party.
”We urge the youth as well as other sections within the IFP to make use of these platforms,” said Mncwango.
It was not the first time that some young IFP members had raised concerns about senior party leaders.
In 2005, many youth league leaders and then IFP national chairperson Ziba Jiyane left the party when their attempts to revive the IFP were met with firm opposition.
They later became members of the National Democratic Convention. – Sapa