IFP youth meet about Buthelezi

2009-04-30 16:05

Durban - The Inkatha Freedom Party's Youth Brigade has called an urgent meeting to discuss reported discontent with IFP 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 has seen its support dwindling in the past few years.

IFP YB president Pat Lebenya-Ntazi said an urgent meeting had been scheduled for next week where the youth's reported unhappiness with Buthelezi would be discussed.

According to reports, the unhappiness was sparked by the party's dismal performance during 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.

Angry reaction from Buthelezi

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 has been IFP president since the party's formation in the 1970s, reacted angrily when a journalist asked him 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.

It is not the first time that some young IFP members have raised concerns about senior leaders in the party.

In 2005, many youth league leaders and then IFP national chairperson Ziba Jiyane left the party when their attempts to revive the party were met with firm opposition.

They later became members of the National Democratic Convention (Nadeco).

- SAPA