Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PRETORIA203
2009-02-03 10:10:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Pretoria
Cable title:  

IFP MANIFESTO LAUNCH FEATURES NO VIOLENCE, SAME

Tags:  KJU PGOV SF 
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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031010Z FEB 09 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7221
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 6518
RUEHDU/AMCONSUL DURBAN 0644
RUEHJO/AMCONSUL JOHANNESBURG 8866
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
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
-------

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