#Elections19: What IFP stands for

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ESTABLISHED AFRICA
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IFP leader by Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi [image: IFP]

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), aka the Zulu-nation party, is also a top contender for the 2019 national elections. Led by veteran political jabber, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, IFP was founded in 1975 with the aim of pushing the spirit of Ubuntu/Botho.

They have three core values:
  1. Solidarity
  2. Freedom
  3. Unity in diversity

This year, they are running under the slogan “Trust Us!” A call South Africans to have a little faith in their agenda that will “make South Africa a better country for all who live in it.”

IFP supporters at the party’s closing rally on 5 May [image: IFP]
Their two page manifesto is pretty reader-friendly. With its clear and simple goals for the people of South Africa it outlines key issues faced by the youth, economy, environment and society at large.

They outline issues pertaining to the need for:
Growing economy: which will see them establish a Department of Youth and Job Creation and a state-owned bank that will benefit the people at large.
Access to land: pushing for a clear cut need for land expropriation with compensation.
A social care package: need for one social care worker per ward per municipality which will also work with the need to increase the social grants offered to South Africans to improve standard of living.
Human settlements: need for the establishment of housing support centers in communities, especially with the housing crisis that South Africa has had for over 20 years now.
Safety, security and Justice: a crime free society (how they plan to do this is unclear. More thought needs to be placed on this issue as many South Africans grapple with it).
Education: the talk of the town. The IFP wants to take a different approach to this by helping with school security and the standard need for free education for all. (Their stance on education is vague and broad which may mean more needs to be addressed regarding the issue of education, especially when speaking of job creation).
Gender equality: they have taken more of a recreation stance to this. Pushing for the Banyana Banyana players’ salaries to be increased and the need for free sanitary pads to be easily accessed for females all over South Africa.
Environment: creating of special wildlife courts, especially with rhino and elephant pouching in areas with nature reserves. Furthermore, they made it clear in their manifesto that they would like the ultimate ban of single use plastic for the benefit of the environment.

Though the IFP have clear cut issues they wish to address if placed in power, they have taken a rather controversial stance regarding the issues above and the pressing issue of immigration is not addressed in detail (which is alarming, especially with the high rate of xenophobic attacks that take place in KwaZulu Natal).

At a closer look, their manifesto may surprise us all. The IFP appeals to different audiences which means their supporters might not only from the Zulu nation, which they already have in the bag, but the other eight provinces too.

Buthelezi with Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini [image: Daily Sun]
The one thing that many voters must be aware of is that 90-year old Buthelezi will not be returning to the ring after the 6th parliamentary elections take place.

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