By Celani Sikhakhane
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has finally registered the National Freedom Party (NFP) to participate in the 2024 elections.
The registration took place after the IEC recognised the party’s elective conference held from 15 to 17 December last year as a legitimate structure of the party.
The NFP must still submit all required documents, including the names of candidates for provincial legislatures and the National Assembly.
NFP president Ivan Barnes told Scrolla.Africa: “We are now going to pay the fees as part of the IEC’s requirements to contest elections in all nine provinces. We want to assure our people that the party will govern this country come June 1, 2024.”
The NFP has been damaged by leadership disputes since 2014 after its then-president, Zanele kaMagwaza Msibi, died after suffering a stroke.
Since then, party leaders have been in conflict. The party failed to participate in the 2016 local government elections after the NFP’s treasurer general, Thokozani Ndlovu, deliberately missed the deadline to register with the IEC.
Ndlovu later revealed that he faced threats from certain leaders who wanted to use violence to secure their positions as mayors and councillors on the IEC list.
Barnes said these actions were intended to destroy the NFP.
Pictured above: NFP president Ivan Barnes says the party is now registered to contest the 2024 elections on 29 May.
Image source: X
