Buthelezi's spot up for grabs
2009-05-20 14:06
Durban - The top post in the KwaZulu-Natal house of traditional leaders currently occupied by Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi will be up for grabs this week.
Traditional leaders from KwaZulu-Natal's 11 districts will converge on Durban's Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre on Friday to elect a provincial chairperson of the house.
Buthelezi, who is also Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader, has been chairperson of the house since 2006 when the groundbreaking KwaZulu-Natal Traditional Leadership and Governance Act was implemented.
Before the act was promulgated, Buthelezi was the traditional prime minister of the Zulu nation for years and his position was never up for re-election.
The Act stipulates that leaders of the district houses and the provincial house be democratically elected.
On Friday, it will be the second time Buthelezi's position is contested through a democratic process.
KwaZulu-Natal's 11 district houses of traditional leaders chose their new leaders two weeks ago.
The election of the house's new leadership comes as Buthelezi faces fierce pressure from IFP Youth Brigade members, who want him replaced by a young blood.
The entire KwaZulu-Natal IFP Youth Brigade leadership was suspended at the weekend, after it agitated for a change in the party's leadership.
It is lobbying for Buthelezi to be removed during the party's elective conference in Ulundi in July this year.
The youth wing blames senior leaders for IFP's poor showing in last month's general elections.
Problems in the party will not have any impact on Friday's election, said political analyst Protas Madlala. "Buthelezi's party performed badly during the elections, but indications are that he will retain his position because he still commands a lot of following among amakhosi."
He said it was unlikely that the amakhosi would vote Buthelezi out.
Claims of underhanded tactics during intense lobbying for Buthelezi's position have been raised by IFP leaders, who claim that the party's arch-rival, the African National Congress, is out to ensure that Buthelezi is not re-elected.
The claims have been dismissed by the ANC.
The IFP has accused the ANC of offering bribes for votes ahead of the election of new leaders.
The party said there had been instances where amakhosi were put up in hotels and asked for their banking details by the ANC campaigners.
The party was, however, unable to provide proof of this.
- SAPA