Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07DURBAN59
2007-10-17 13:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Durban
Cable title:  

BUTHELEZI PREACHES MORE OF THE SAME AT IFP ANNUAL

Tags:  PGOV PREL PINR KDEM SF 
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INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0523
RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 0226
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
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RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN 0600
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DURBAN 000059 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/S - RMARBURG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KDEM SF
SUBJECT: BUTHELEZI PREACHES MORE OF THE SAME AT IFP ANNUAL
CONFERENCE

REF: DURBAN 54

DURBAN 00000059 001.2 OF 003


CLASSIFIED BY: Eugene S. Young, Consul General.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DURBAN 000059

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/S - RMARBURG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/17/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KDEM SF
SUBJECT: BUTHELEZI PREACHES MORE OF THE SAME AT IFP ANNUAL
CONFERENCE

REF: DURBAN 54

DURBAN 00000059 001.2 OF 003


CLASSIFIED BY: Eugene S. Young, Consul General.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)

1. (C) SUMMARY: The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) held its 32nd
Annual General Conference from October 12-14 in KwaZulu-Natal.
IFP President Mangosuthu Buthelezi presided over the conference,
which was attended by over 3,000 delegates. Buthelezi
criticized the ANC-led government, and detailed his own party's
problems, but did little to detail a strategy for the 2009
elections. A controversy surrounding calls for the establishment
of an IFP Deputy President dominated the conference. Buthelezi
announced that he would step down at the end of his term in 2009
following general elections. He would likely stay, however, for
another term if the party asked him to, and should his health
hold up, we believe the party will do so. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) CG and Pol/EconOff attended the Inkatha Freedom Party's
(IFP) 32nd Annual General Conference from October 12-14 in
Ulundi in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). IFP President Mangosuthu
Buthelezi presided over the conference, which was attended by
over 3,000 delegates. No agenda was released prior to the start
of the conference, with the understanding that Buthelezi had the
agenda stored "in his head." The conference started three hours
late following a prolonged emergency meeting of the National
Executive Committee. Buthelezi called the meeting to deal with
rumors that the IFP Youth Brigade wished to create the position
of Deputy President, which is not currently called for in the
party's constitution, and in order to assist in clarifying the
IFP succession process.

LEAN, MEAN, ELECTION FIGHTING MACHINE?


3. (C) The theme of this year's conference was "Each One's Role
in a Crisis and the Forthcoming Elections." Buthelezi detailed
in an hour-long speech problems with the ANC-led government.
Buthelezi proclaimed that "corruption has never been as
rampant," that pro-IFP civil servants have been "purged," and
that the ANC "has placed the last nail in the coffin of

provincial autonomy." Buthelezi also mentioned the suspension
of Vusi Pikoli, Director of the National Prosecuting Authority,
as an example of the "mess" in the criminal justice system. He
also cited crime, HIV/AIDS, unemployment, and poverty as key
issues which the ANC has failed to address. Buthelezi then
described many of the IFP's faults that had led to the loss of
support over the past several years. Buthelezi, however,
offered few suggestions as to how the party could move forward
with a coordinated and successful campaign for the 2009
elections. Instead, he merely proclaimed that "this is the time
to become a lean, mean and effective election fighting machine."
Yet when the delegates broke into closed sessions, only one of
eleven groups was told to focus on the formulation of a strategy
to win back voters.


4. (C) While the recent crossing of four ANC members to the IFP
in two KZN municipalities (see Reftel) has boosted party
confidence, the short-lived effects of this will be outweighed
by the party's substantial problems. The IFP continues to fail
to attract broad-based support beyond its primary constituents,
rural Zulus, and in fact has steadily lost ground to the ANC
even among this core constituency. Further, since the party
lost the province in 2004, funding sources have continued to
decline. As the ANC now controls the provincial government,
there is little incentive for private business to donate to
other parties. The IFP states that business leaders fear that
they will lose government contracts if they are publicly seen to
be IFP supporters.

CONTROVERSY OVER CALLS FOR DEPUTY PRESIDENT


5. (C) Prior to the conference, there were widespread media
reports that dissidents within the IFP would call for the
establishment of a Deputy President, requiring an amendment to
the party's constitution. Reportedly, these dissidents sought
to push forward potential candidates to succeed Buthelezi
through this mechanism. Any speculation concerning the creation
of a Deputy President was quickly squashed when the conference
finally opened. The three leaders most likely to take over from
Buthelezi - Secretary General Reverend Musa Zondi, National
Chairperson Zanele Magwaza-Msibi, and National Organizer Albert
Mncwango - distanced themselves from any such move in individual
speeches. All three pledged allegiance to Buthelezi if he were
to stand again for another term of office. Acting IFP Young
Brigade Leader Pat Lebenya-Ntanzi also delivered a statement
denying claims that the Youth Brigade engaged in any formal or
informal discussion about a Deputy President.


6. (C) Buthelezi cautioned that too many members of his party

DURBAN 00000059 002.2 OF 003


are "concerned about leadership issues, and wonder who will be
succeeding" him, but noted that this will occur only when this
"Conference tells me that it is time to retire, or when my term
expires, or when I get run over by the proverbial bus."
Buthelezi delivered the final blow to any Deputy President
aspirants, declaring that "I lead my party. I do not follow it!
This weekend is not an elective conference."


7. (C) Professor Christian Msimang, Chairperson of the Political
Oversight Committee, confided to Pol/EconOff on October 13 that
there had been "too much fighting" amongst party leaders over
"issues of leadership." Although other party leaders present at
the conference denied any such leadership struggles, Buthelezi
publicly confirmed infighting in his address, stating that he no
longer wants "to hear about our leaders promoting themselves
with our existing constituencies or undermining other leaders."
Despite the ongoing debate, Secretary General Reverend Zondi
told CG that there is no succession process. When Buthelezi
departs the Presidency, the National Chairperson will be interim
President until an election is called to decide the next leader.

BUTHELEZI - NOT YET "RUN OVER BY THE PROVERBIAL BUS"


8. (C) At 79 years old, an energetic Buthelezi presided over the
conference until 1:00 AM on the first evening. The following
morning, he delivered his Presidential Address in two languages,
English and isiZulu, and stood during a Sotho translation. After
standing on his feet for three continuous hours, he still
appeared the picture of perfect health. Zondi also confirmed
that Buthelezi was "fit as a fiddle."


9. (C) On the final day of the conference, Buthelezi announced
that he would step down from the post of President after the
expiration of his term in 2009. He noted repeatedly throughout
the conference, however, that he had previously offered his
resignation in 2004 and 2006, but was "begged" each time by the
party to stand for another term.


10. (C) In many respects, Buthelezi is the sole voice of the
IFP. Whether the IFP will survive following his retirement or
death is unclear. As he is also the traditional Prime Minister
of the Zulu Kingdom, he has also historically embodied the
spirit of Zulu nationalism. Despite appearing regularly with
ANC Deputy President Jacob Zuma at events around KZN, Buthelezi
and the IFP have felt threatened recently by Zuma's emergence as
a popular Zulu leader.

RHETORIC OF A SLOWLY DYING PARTY


11. (C) Buthelezi seemed to indicate during the conference that
he was aware that his party was slowly fizzling out, noting that
the IFP is "knocked down, but not knocked out." Buthelezi
repeatedly stated that the IFP was working to regain control of
KZN, but cautioned that "with the resources of State which are
being used extensively already to campaign for the 2009
elections by the ANC in the Province, this may be considered a
tall order."


12. (C) Buthelezi may have unwittingly predicted the fate of the
party in his opening remarks, stating that the IFP's "demise has
been predicted many times, but we have prevailed and we will
continue to prevail. Politics, in the end, is a numbers game.
We can have the most finely crafted slogans and policies, but
without votes, we are consigned to irrelevance, and ultimately,
oblivion."


13. (C) COMMENT: For now, the IFP remains a viable voice of
opposition in KZN in spite of declining power and resources.
With significant funding problems and no clear election strategy
it is unlikely that the IFP will win back KZN from the ANC.
There is no indication, however, that the party would survive
without charismatic leader Buthelezi at the helm. While
Buthelezi announced that he would step down in 2009, he would
likely stay on once again if the party requested him to stay for
another term. Barring a serious deterioration in his health, we
believe he will be "asked" to stay on by the party. Even so,
the party's refusal to discuss a succession strategy is
short-sighted given Buthelezi's age. However, Buthelezi may
believe (and may be correct) that there is currently no clear
successor amongst the party's top leaders. Ironically, it is
Buthelezi's own leadership that has brought the IFP to this
point where he is, in fact, the indispensable man. Buthelezi's
unwillingness to yield authority or to groom successors over the
years has driven from the party any leaders who could
successfully transition the IFP into a new era. As a result,

DURBAN 00000059 003.2 OF 003


the party is left with weak senior leaders with little national
or provincial recognition, whose assumption of power would only
accelerate the decline of the party. END COMMENT.
YOUNG