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Inkatha Freedom Party

HISTORY

Most often described as “Zulu-nationalist,”^{1. kbw}  the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) is a conservative, ethnic-based political party that draws its support from the KwaZulu-Natal region of South Africa.^{2. kbw}  Born from the Inkatha National Cultural Liberation Movement, founded in 1975 by Dr. Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the IFP was officially renamed as a political party in 1990.^{3. kbw}   With the African National  Congress and the Pan-Africanist Congress in exile, Buthelezi’s goals were ostensibly to prove “that democratic opposition to apartheid and non-violent tactics and strategies were still possible” through the formation of a federal, democratic government.^{3. kbw}   Despite this nonviolent rhetoric, Buthelezi was criticized for human rights abuses, and a struggle for political power between the IFP and the ANC was often bloody.^{4. kbw}

THE IFP AND THE NEW SOUTH AFRICA

The chief political aim of the IFP in the early 1990s was to promote a federalist national government that would provide regional autonomy and thus, ensure IFP control over the KwaZulu-Natal region.^{5. kbw}  This goal led the IFP to join the Freedom Alliance, a coalition with the “white right wing” that opposed the ANC in calling for “autonomous or independent homelands where they can govern themselves and maintain privileges enjoyed under apartheid.”^{6. kbw}  The IFP’s endeavor was strengthened by support from the South African military and police in an attempt to undermine the capacity of the ANC to gain political control of South Africa.^{4. kbw}   The IFP’s struggle against the ANC culminated in its threat to boycott the national elections in 1994, winning the party considerable media attention.^{7. kbw}  The ANC, motivated in part by the need for peace in order to attract foreign investors,  took an accomodationist approach to the conflict, and negotiated an accord with the IFP shortly before the election.^{8. kbw}  The IFP took 10.54 percent of the national vote in 1994, and 43 of the 400 congressional seats, maintaining a majority in KwaZulu-Natal.^{9. kbw}  While the ANC compromised with the IFP and the other smaller parties in creating nine distinct provinces, Roger Southall argues that because the provinces had no exclusive powers, the constitution was no more than “proto-federal.”^{10. kbw}  

CONSTITUENCY

The IFP’s links to the Inkatha National Cultural Liberation Movement, and before that, King Solomon’s cultural organization, “Inkatha”, with roots in the philosophy of Ubuntu-Botho (the promotion of African patterns of thought and value systems) has given the party a specifically ethnic focus.^{3. kbw}  Its constituency is concentrated in the KwaZulu-Natal province, and has been especially successful in garnering rural support, as shown by the 1999 national elections.^{11. kbw}  The party has also appealed to Zulu people in squatter settlements and in workers' hostels.^{4. kbw}  Although urban areas such as Durban have shown increasing preference for the ANC, a recent sample poll of voters in the KwaZulu-Natal province found over 90 percent support of the elected IFP candidate.^{12. kbw}  

IDEOLOGY & POLITICAL PLATFORM

Since its inception the main tenet of the IFP’s political standpoint has been advocacy of federalism and opposition to a strong central government.  As an ethnic-based party, it has functioned primarily to fight for autonomy for KwaZulu-Natal, a position which has been criticized as the control over rural poor in the KZN by a “caste of abusive chiefs and warlords” ^{4. kbw}  More recently the IFP has been forced to take a stand on a variety of other issues, and while the party has little in terms of a clearly articulated platform, it often defines itself in opposition to the ANC.  It has recently come into conflict with the ANC on the issue of immigration ^{13. kbw}  and further opposes the ANC in its firm commitment to a free market economy. ^{14. kbw}  On questions of monetary policy, federal spending, and trade unions, however, the party’s position is now similar to that of the ANC; the IFP believes “that fiscal control is essential to regulate the quantity and flow of money,” that the State should play a role in controlling the utilization of land, water and power, and that trade union development should be encouraged.^{3. kbw}

RECENT ELECTIONS

Since 1994 the IFP has faced several internal issues.  Democratization has meant decreased power in the hands of the traditional elite leaders, and increased effort by the ‘moderates’ to appeal to urban black voters and work with the ANC. ^{10. kbw}  Defection of key party leaders to the ANC has changed the face of the party and narrowed opportunities for political strategy. ^{10. kbw}  The second national election was held in South Africa in 1999, in which the IFP received 8.58 percent of the national vote, and 40.45 percent of the vote in KwaZulu-Natal.^{15. kbw}   The political competition between the IFP and the ANC in the 1999 election served to strengthen the value of the rand.^{16. kbw}  

In the 2000 Municipal Elections the IFP showed a strong command of the KZN, taking 36 municipalities, but polled only 9.1 percent of the vote.^{17. kbw}  However, the party may be capitalizing on dissatisfaction with the ANC and expanding its constituency; Nirode Bramdaw reports that, “In another trend in the KwaZulu-Natal municipal elections, the IFP appears to have arrested the shift of urban support away from the party and taken some former ANC strongholds.” ^{18. kbw} 

 2. “South Africa; Voters Shun Party Politics.” Africa News 24 May 2002. Accessed via Lexis-Nexis.

3. “Historical Background.” Inkatha Freedom Party. http://www.ifp.org.za/

4. Saul, John S. “Cry for the beloved country: The post-apartheid denouement.” Monthly Review 1 January 2001. Accessed via Dow Jones Interactive.

5. “Inkatha Demands Provincial Powers.” All Things Considered. National Public Radio. Segment Number 8; Show Number 1409. 2 March 1994. Accessed via Dow Jones Interactive.

6. “Prepare for worst, chief warns Zulus.” The Dallas Morning News (Associated Press) 14 February 1994. Accessed via Dow Jones Interactive.

7. “Inkatha’s Platform.” Southern Africa Business Intelligence. Financial Times Business Reports Business File. 22 April 1994. Accessed via Dow Jones Interactive.

8. Hanson, Margaret and James J. Hentz. “Neocolonialism and neoliberalism in South Africa and Zambia.” Political Science Quarterly 1 October 1999. Accessed via Dow Jones Interactive.

9. “Elections '94.” Independent Electoral Commission. http://www.elections.org.za/elections94.asp

10. Southall, Roger. “The Centralization and Fragmentation of South Africa's Dominant Party System.” African Affairs 1 October 1998. Accessed via Dow Jones Interactive.

11. Daley, Suzanne. “African National Congress Re-elected in Landslide.” New York Times 4 June 1999. Accessed via Lexis-Nexis.

12. “By-Elections Summary Report.” Independent Electoral Commission. 22 Jan 2003. http://www.elections.org.za/InternetReportsIEC/SummaryReport/ByElectionSummary_Report.asp?cboElection=24

13. Ensor, Linda. “MPs revive bitter row over law on immigrants.” Business Day (South Africa) 20 February 2003. Accessed via Dow Jones Interactive.

14. “ANC Denies Dual Membership with IFP in KZN.” South African Press Association 10 January 2000. Accessed via Lexis-Nexis.

15. “National Elections Regional Summary.” Independent Electoral Commission. 9 June 1999. http://www.elections.org.za/results/natperprov.asp

16. Fine, Alan. “SA Electorate Repeats 1994's Perfect Fluke.” Business Day (South Africa) 9 June 1999. Accessed via Lexis-Nexis.

17. “Two Steps Forward, One Step Back.” Political Risk Services 01 March 2001. Accessed via Lexis-Nexis.

18. Bramdaw, Nirode. “DA, IFP To Talk About Alliances.” Business Day (South Africa) 07 December 2000.  Accessed via Lexis-Nexis.

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