IFP MANIFESTO LAUNCH FEATURES NO VIOLENCE, SAME

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRETORIA 000203 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KJU PGOV SF SUBJECT: IFP MANIFESTO LAUNCH FEATURES NO VIOLENCE, SAME OLD BUTHELEZI REF: A. DURBAN 00007 ¶B. DURBAN 00008 PRETORIA 00000203 001.2 OF 002 -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) launched its party manifesto before a small, heavily guarded crowd in Soweto on January 25. IFP leaders spoke briefly about the party's agenda -- economic growth, job creation, law and order, education, health, land reform, and morality -- before turning over the podium to venerable leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi. The crowd, estimated between 4,000 and 5,000 by the media and foreign diplomats, cheered each speaker but saved its loudest applause for Buthelezi. The 80-year old IFP leader showed few signs of slowing down and looks poised to carry the party through this election. End Summary. -------------- IFP Launches Manifesto in Soweto -------------- ¶2. (U) The IFP launched its party manifesto before a crowd estimated at between 4,000 and 5,000 cheering supporters in Pimville in Soweto on January 25. The police presence inside and outside the stadium in Pimville was substantial, as organizers were concerned there would be violence between IFP and African National Congress (ANC) sympathizers after the event. (Note: Poloffs saw no sign of violence and even saw IFP members, wearing t-shirts and hats, shopping at the posh Maponya Mall with little regard for their own security. End Note.) Inside the stadium, party supporters sat on the ground while party leaders and guests sat under a covered staging area surrounded by a fence. One observer noted, "The leaders sitting in staging area really do not resemble those in the crowd. Here I see blacks, whites, and Indians. On the field, I see only blacks. This could be a problem for the party at the polls." The crowd cheered the religious leaders and party leaders such as Youth Brigade President Pat Lebenya-Ntanzi and Women's Brigade President Thembi Nzuza that opened the event. Lebenya-Ntanzi and Nzuza addressed the crowd both in English and Zulu. Following their remarks, Buthelezi took the stage to sustained applause. He opened his address by thanking the crowd for the opportunity to continue "a dialogue with Soweto." -------------- Buthelezi Discusses the IFP Manifesto -------------- ¶3. (U) Buthelezi's address underscored how the IFP's manifesto reads like a treatise rather than a election program. The IFP chief delivered the same address both in English and Zulu, talking for roughly one hour, and noted what the party would focus on and how it would achieve its vision. (Note: For more information see the IFP website at ww.ifp.org.za. End Note.) He expounded on some of the party's agenda during his remarks; at times, he flailed his arms and waved his hands to make his points. On economic growth, he said the party could achieve eight percent growth per year. He noted, "The IFP does not advocate unbridled, laissez faire capitalism associated with a minimalist state." However, he claimed the party wants to pursue greater foreign direct investment and an industrial policy that promotes manufactured exports." ¶4. (U) When he discussed law and order, Buthelezi took several shots at the ANC's policies of disbanding the Scorpions and undermining the judiciary. He said, "We need to protect the integrity and independence of the judiciary and retain or reinstate the Scorpions." He also warned that Qand retain or reinstate the Scorpions." He also warned that the police are becoming "too politicized." On education, he called for better regulation of South Africa's textbook industry and the restructuring of the Outcomes Based Education program. He lashed out at the Jacob Zuma-led ANC over health care, noting that the ruling party has done far too little to combat HIV. He said that his first step as national leader would be to declare HIV a national crisis. He tied health care into the country's "loss of morality." ¶5. (U) Buthelezi met with the media after speaking to the crowd. He elaborated on the party's agenda and described how pleased he was with the turnout for the launch. An interesting moment occurred during the session when the South PRETORIA 00000203 002.2 OF 002 African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) asked Buthelezi on live television to explain his party's manifesto. The reporter posed the question, but Buthelezi apparently did not hear the question and continued looking away from the camera. After about ten seconds, the reporter posed the same question and the IFP chief finally responded. The episode served to remind those in the room that despite Buthelezi's energy, he is 80. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The party's campaign agenda mirrors what its leaders have both pushed publicly and shared with US diplomats in recent months. The party has chosen to maintain its leadership intact even as political analysts and pundits say the IFP needs to deal with succession sooner rather than later. Failure to deal with succession transparently may be the biggest detriment to the IFP's hopes for success at the polls. (Note: See Reftels for more information on the IFP's goals for this election. End Note.) As the SABC interview showed, Buthelezi is getting older whether the party wants him to or not. BALL