INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY UNLIKELY TO CONTEST VOTE IN KZN

UNCLAS DURBAN 000042 SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR AF/S, INR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV SF SUBJECT: INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY UNLIKELY TO CONTEST VOTE IN KZN REF: Durban 39 ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Although late complaining from Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) officials about an unfair election environment indicated that the party might contest the vote count in KwaZulu Natal (KZN),intervention by former Nigerian President Olesun Obasanjo seems to have persuaded the IFP otherwise. IFP is humbled by defeat but hopes to rebuild. End Summary. Elections not Free and Fair, says IFP ¶2. (SBU) In the final days of their campaign, IFP leaders accused the ANC of electoral foul play. At the launch of the African Election Observer Team hosted by The African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) on April 17, former IFP KZN Premier Lionel Mtshali decried the unfair political environment in which the ANC, in his estimation, acted with impunity. He also noted that the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) had not responded to the IFP's written complaints of political intimidation and abuse of police authority in Nongoma and elsewhere. In IFP press releases, IFP parliamentarians said that the recent hand-over of houses to former soldiers of uMkhonto weSizwe amounted to vote buying and also that the IFP is considering legal action against the state-owned South African Broadcasting Company (SABC) because of a pro-ANC bias, which the IFP claims has `ruined any chance of a free and fair election.' ¶3. (SBU) In response to the arrest of an election official who allegedly stuffed a ballot box with ballots marked in favor of the IFP, Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi, IFP KZN Premier candidate, accused the African National Congress (ANC ) and the IEC of `conniving to discredit the name of the IFP' and claimed that the accused is actually a member of the ANC. IFP President Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi further alleged that the ballots marked in favor of the IFP had been printed in the ANC-controlled KZN Premier's office and then distributed in KZN and Mpumalanga Province. Obasanjo Intervenes ¶4. (SBU) Sean Callaghan and Vasu Gounden of ACCORD reported to CG and P/E Officer on April 23 that Obasanjo had counseled Buthelezi to accept the election results and not contest the vote outcome. Indeed, Obasanjo promised to return to South Africa and intervene should there be a vote-results dispute in KZN. ACCORD reps also said that Obasanjo had met with senior ANC officials in the province, both Premier Sibusiso Ndebele and Premier-in-Waiting Zweli Mkhize, to urge them not to pursue a legal case of defamation against Prince Buthelezi regarding his allegations that ballots had been printed in the Premier's office. Local media reported on April 24 that Ndebele told reporters that he would put the lawsuit on hold. ¶5. (U) In a press conference attended by P/E Officer and P/E Assistant on April 24, a defeated-looking Buthelezi reiterated his concerns about election irregularities but said that he accepted, `that the people of South Africa have spoken.' Buthelezi often trailed off when speaking and seemed unusually emotional. He promised to keep campaigning on behalf of his party, but said that the IFP must rebuild itself. Buthelezi still showed sparks of his old self, however, when asked about the future of the IFP. When pressed by a reporter if the IFP could recover from this defeat, Buthelezi declared, `Why not? I've been at this longer than you!' ¶6. (SBU) Comment: Although Buthelezi would not confirm outright that the IFP had foregone contesting the final results in KZN, his demeanor at the April 24 event suggested that he will take Obasanjo's advice and not file a formal complaint with the IEC. It is unclear from Buthelezi's responses if the IFP expects to find a place within an ANC-controlled provincial legislature or even if the IFP would be able to stomach a handout from the ANC. Buthelezi did, however, sheepishly remind the audience that the IFP had reached out to the ANC when the IFP took power in KZN in 1994, suggesting that the IFP is hoping that the ANC will not deal them a final blow. DERDERIAN