IFP advocates for Zulu king recognition through National Dialogue
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Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) said it will use the National Dialogue to relaunch its fight for full recognition of Zulu King Misuzulu and traditional leaders, which deadlocked during the Convention for the Democratic South Africa (Codesa) talks in the early 90s.
In a media briefing on Monday, the party said it fully supported the dialogue, which was proposed by its late founder, inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi, eight years ago. Buthelezi died in 2023.
Emphasising the importance of dialogue, the party president, Velenkosini Hlabisa, said it was a matter of historic record that Codesa fell short in many respects in wholly transitioning South Africa into democracy, as political freedom has not, among other things, translated into economic justice for South Africans.
Hlabisa said since 1994, his party has continuously advocated for meaningful conversation, through a National Dialogue, on these critical issues because national unity and social stability depend on the collective ability to address these outstanding matters.
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'The Inkatha Freedom Party firmly believes that South Africa's future depends on open, inclusive, and honest dialogue among all its citizens. As Shenge reminded us, a national dialogue is not just about talking — it is about listening, understanding, and finding common ground to address the nation's most pressing challenges. We want the outstanding matters of Codesa to be addressed in the National Dialogue, such as the powers of the king and amakhosi,' said Hlabisa
He said in times of economic, political, and social crossroads, dialogue offers a consensus-seeking path to nation-building. It emphasises the importance of engaging diverse voices across all segments of society, from government and traditional leaders to ordinary citizens, to forge solutions rooted in mutual understanding.
'Eight years ago, on 05 May 2017, our founder, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, emphasised the importance of National Dialogue on issues like land reform, traditional leadership, poverty alleviation, and social cohesion. He pointed out almost prophetically that 'South Africa has reached a crossroads, economically, politically, and socially. We cannot move blindly into the future, accepting the current trajectory as fixed. It is not. We are, after all, masters of our own destiny',' concluded the party.
The IFP vigorously fought for the greater powers of the then-king Zwelithini during the Codesa talks to the point that the party boycotted the first democratic elections in 1994. It only entered elections a few days before the election date after international peace brokers promised to revisit the outstanding matters after the elections, which never happened.
willem.phungula@inl.co.za
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