By Celani Sikhakhane
- Three candidates are now in the running for IFP president, including the Zulu King’s prime minister.
- The party will hold its first leadership vote since the death of founder Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
Political knives have been drawn for the position of IFP boss as more contenders have thrown their hats in the ring for the party leadership.
The battle for leadership of the IFP is becoming a closely contested tussle never seen in the history of the party since founded by its late leader in 1975.
Scrolla.Africa has learned that the traditional prime minister to the Zulu monarch and AmaZulu nation Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi is the the latest entrant in the leadership contest.
The KZN Cogta MEC wants to be the next IFP president and this has split supporters of KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli, who is also the IFP’s provincial chairperson.
IFP deputy president Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi is also running for the top job.
“The sitting president Velenkosini Hlabisa faces serious competition this time as the number of candidates grows. He has tried to talk to Ntuli asking for support to get another term that will end in 2029. The prime minister is pushing for the conference to happen early in 2025,” a source said.
Last month, Hlabisa announced that the party would hold its leadership contest next year. This will be the IFP’s first such meeting since founding president Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi died.
The current leadership’s term ended in August but the national council extended it.
“We need to activate the party activities to prepare for a conference. Indeed, the conference will sit next year,” Hlabisa said during a media briefing last month.
He said the party still needs to complete various tasks before the conference, including electing constituency leaders and commissions.
“Once the process of auditing is finished, as we gave a timeframe, the national council will then decide on the timeline,” said Hlabisa.
Pictured above: Prime Minister to the Zulu Monarch Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi and IFP Deputy President Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi are in the race for the IFP presidency.
Source: CoGTA
