Durban — A Patriotic Alliance (PA) delegation led by the party's deputy president, Kenny Kunene, met and received blessings from IFP Emeritus President Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi and the IFP top leadership in Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal, on Monday.
Speaking to the Daily News, Kunene said the PA requested the meeting to formally introduce themselves to Buthelezi in his capacity as the traditional prime minister to the Zulu monarch and nation.
“We will be campaigning and contesting elections in KwaZulu-Natal and we thought as a gesture of respect and courtesy, we should formally come to introduce ourselves to you and to let you know that we will be active in an area where citizens are predominantly your subjects.”
Kunene added that the PA's mission “is to address pressing challenges facing millions of South Africans such as poverty, unemployment, crime and corruption, a mission we know you share”.
Kunene thanked Buthelezi and the IFP leadership for agreeing to meet the leadership of the Patriotic Alliance. Kunene said these challenges required the co-operation of political parties. At the meeting, Kunene also introduced PA member and former Fees Must Fall activist Bonginkosi Khanyile as the PA's KwaZulu-Natal premier candidate for the 2024 elections.
Buthelezi said: “I appreciate your expression of your intentions; that the Patriotic Alliance intends campaigning in KwaZulu-Natal. I am sure you know that the IFP has always supported multi-party democracy and we welcome many voices representing our diverse people. If your intention is to serve and to meet needs and to create better local governance, I welcome you with open arms.”
He added: “I would like to welcome you to this meeting and thank you for requesting the opportunity to come and see me, as the traditional prime minister to the Zulu monarch and nation. I appreciate your concern for protocol, and the respect you are showing towards the Zulu royal family and the Zulu nation.
“I must also thank you for accepting to meet with me together with the national executive committee of the IFP, the party that I founded and which I still serve as president emeritus. It is always beneficial for political leaders to exchange ideas and I felt that we should not miss this opportunity to discuss, even as politicians, how we might further what is a shared fight against the ills of our country.
“I know, Mr Kunene, that you have always been open to engaging with various leaders in different situations, and I appreciate that willingness to openly discuss matters that affect all of us as South Africans.”
Buthelezi said the meeting came at a pivotal time in the history of the Zulu nation, “for we are preparing for what has been termed the coronation of His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini”.
“In truth, this is not a coronation in the Western sense of the word, for His Majesty the King is already de facto and de jure on the throne. He has been recognised by the president and his position has been gazetted. He has undergone all rituals and fulfilled all traditions. What remains now is for the president of the republic to hand over the certificate of appointment. That will, as you know, take place on 29 October.”
Buthelezi added that this was a very busy time for the royal family and for those engaged in the arrangements for the ceremony.
“My role as traditional prime minister, a role that I have fulfilled now under three kings, has naturally positioned me as a champion of our traditional institutions, including the institution of traditional leadership. I have in fact served as Inkosi of the Buthelezi Clan for some 70 years.
“I understand and have a strong belief in the role that traditional leaders must play in the good governance of our people. I also believe strongly in the necessity of empowering people towards self-help and self-reliance, which in part is why I piloted the Ingonyama Trust Act through the KwaZulu Legislative Assembly in 1994, placing the land of the Zulu Kingdom into a trust, to remain as communal land administered by amakhosi.
“Now, these matters, related to my role as traditional prime minister, of course have implications in the political sphere. The issue of land reform, the issue of local governance, rural development, protecting the vulnerable – all these are matters that we as politicians deal with every day,” he said.
“This, too, is why I felt that it would be most beneficial for us to meet not only as a gesture of paying respect, but as leaders in our nation who face a common challenge; to meet the needs of our people. Particularly because that is done first and foremost at local level. Local government and even provincial government deals more closely with our people than national government. There is closer interaction.”
Buthelezi said the country “desperately needs leaders who are able and willing to genuinely serve”.
“I welcome a frank and open conversation on this and any other matter you wish to discuss. Thank you again for coming to see me.”
Daily News