Celani Sikhakhane
It was inevitable that the IFP would once again choose it’s retired president Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi to lead it’s campaign in the upcoming elections.
Over the past few months, Shenge’s profile and popularity soared resulting in many seeing him as an elderly statesman. His experience in traditional affairs helped him guide the Zulu Royal Family and the Zulu nation to prepare for the funeral of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu.
This is what the ANC in KwaZulu-Natal feared when it claimed that Buthelezi’s handling of the affairs of the Zulu Royal Family was creating an impression that the royals endorsed the IFP.
Fresh party posters with the face of Buthelezi are now all over social media platforms ahead of the local government elections that will take place on 1 November.
Buthelezi retired in 2017 as party president, a position he held for more than 40 years.
This move to bring back Buthelezi has been described as a strategic move to get more support for the IFP.
Political analyst, Dr Ralph Mathekga told Scrolla.Africa that Buthelezi has shown more morality in the public which will help IFP to get more votes.
“It is too soon for the IFP to let Buthelezi go completely. They still need him. I believe the plan to bring him to the forefront is crucial for the party. Even their decision to give him a title of Emeritus, which is something I’ve never heard in politics, shows that he is still needed more than anyone in the party,” said Mathekga.
Those who are against the use of Buthelezi’s face for election believe that if the IFP loses the current sitting president of the party, Velenkosini Hlabisa will still be blamed.
“We had the same situation in 2009,” said a senior leader.
“The then National Chairperson, Zanele kaMagwaza Msibi was an IFP premier candidate in KZN.”
The senior leader said even though she was a premier candidate the party was using Buthelezi’s face to campaign.
“After we lost, Buthelezi blamed kaMagwaza Msibi for the poor performance of the party. We may find ourselves in the same situation.”
In the 2016 local government elections, Buthelezi became a star at the IEC results Centre in Durban after his party became the biggest winner of many municipalities they lost in 2011.
