IFP to discuss election showing

2009-06-08 21:01

Durban - Inkatha Freedom Party leaders will gather at Ulundi this weekend for an election post-mortem, following the party's poor showing in the April polls.

They are also expected to discuss calls from some IFP Youth Brigade leaders for a leadership shake up.

The young lions blame the old guard for the party’s poor showing in the elections and they are lobbying for IFP leaders such as Mangosuthu Buthelezi not to be re-elected during the party’s elective conference this year.

IFP national organiser Albert Mncwango said the weekend gathering would also look at how the party could approach the 2011 local government elections.

Political analyst Protas Madlala said IFP leaders had no choice but to confront the issues, because they were tearing the organisation apart.

Leadership shake-up

Leaders who did not want to be named said the issue of demands for a major leadership shake-up was expected to dominate the gathering.

They said the youth wing’s demands had angered Buthelezi and other leaders who wanted the matter to be discussed before the elective conference later this year.

IFP elective conferences are held in July, but Mncwango said it was likely that the 2009 conference would be delayed because branches were not in good standing.

"We will not hold the conference if structures are not ready. Many people have not renewed their membership, because we were busy with election campaigns," said Mncwango.

Buthelezi likely to retain position

Madlala said Buthelezi was likely to retain his position during the elective conference.

Buthelezi recently withdrew as a candidate for the chairperson position in the KwaZulu-Natal House of Traditional Leaders.

He announced his withdrawal as a fellow Nkosi (chief), Bhekisisa Bhengu, secured more nominations.

Some 24 amakhosi backed Buthelezi while 28 favoured Bhengu. It was a post he had held since 1994.
 

- SAPA