New leader looks to youth and women
IN A bid to reposition and strengthen itself ahead of the 2021 local government elections and the 2024 general elections, the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) is looking to its youth and women structures for revival.
Giving his speech before the party’s faithful in Ulundi at the weekend, the party’s new president, Velenkosini Hlabisa, said that as they opened a new season of struggle for social and economic justice in the country, the IFP youth brigade and IFP women’s brigade should return to grassroots activism.
The two brigades have been recently rejuvenated by electing new vibrant leaders ahead of the main elective conference. The youth brigade elected Mthokozisi Nxumalo to lead it while the women’s brigade elected Princess Phumzile Buthelezi.
“The national leadership of the IFP will support our Women’s Brigade and our Youth Brigade, not only in this mission but in the commission to reignite grassroots activism and to reignite political education at branch level. Through this, we will strengthen democracy and reposition democratic ideals at the centre of our nation’s politics,” Hlabisa said.
The role of the two brigades was also highlighted by the party’s president emeritus, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, when he gave a keynote address on Saturday. The former leader stressed the need for grassroots activism in order to win the party votes and charged the two leagues to lead from the front in this regard.
“It is vital future generations remember the battles and victories of the past. These encourage us, reminding us that what seems utterly impossible, can in fact be done. This is why I have called on our Youth Brigade and our Women’s Brigade to reignite political education, ensuring we convey to our members the real story of the IFP. It is this that grows cohesion and commitment,” Buthelezi said.
Hlabisa said the IFP would require the commitment of every member.