YESTERDAY'S ELECTIONS IN ZULULAND - THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY
11 July 2012
The wide media coverage of yesterday's election of a Chairperson for the Zululand District House of Traditional Leaders was surprising, considering that elections took place across KwaZulu Natal in every District House, not only in Zululand. Unfortunately, the focus on Zululand alone did not preclude factual errors in some reports (see here).
Let me state from the outset that, as a democrat and a committed traditional leader, I wish the new Chairperson strength and wisdom as he takes on the responsibilities of this position. I accept the outcome of the election and support our new Chairperson.
I am deeply concerned, however, about the political agendas that influenced these elections. Clearly the media senses there is a story here. But it is the story behind the story that needs to be told.
The fact that I was not re-elected to the position of Chairperson had very little to do with democracy, but everything to do with the ANC's grand plan to finally wipe Mangosuthu Buthelezi off the political map. Somehow they believe that separating me from traditional leadership will collapse my support.
Because democratic processes have posed an obstacle to this plan, they have repeatedly tried to use legislation to oust me. Through legislation, they tried to force me to choose between my position as a Member of Parliament and my chairmanship of the House of Traditional Leaders of KwaZulu Natal. Again through legislation, they tried to make the chair a fulltime position, forcing a vacancy.
None of this legislation, based as it was on ulterior motive, stood up in court.
In their latest attempt, the ANC-led Government pushed legislation through Parliament in Cape Town to change the term of office of traditional leaders. With an eye on 2014, the ANC sought to align the term of office of amakhosi with that of councillors. Thus, even though my term of office as Chairperson of the Zululand District House was only due to expire in two years' time, elections were held.
On the face of it, these elections should be lauded as free and fair in terms of the IEC process. But, behind the scenes, people were primed to vote in a certain way. The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) lent support to this plan.
This is not the first time Cogta had acted in this manner. Previously, those who could be convinced to vote against me were put up in the Riverside Hotel and I was made to stay at the Royal Hotel. This time, those who could be primed to vote against me were put up in the Stillwater Motel in Vryheid overnight.
In addition, an inkosi who is often used as a proxy by MECs was greasing the palms of others by dishing out R5000 bribes.
Senior leaders of the ANC in the KwaZulu Natal Legislature were present at the elections, even though they do not reside in Zululand and are not amakhosi. Clearly the ANC was leaving no stone unturned to ensure that I was not re-elected.
The ANC no longer makes any bones about the fact that it has brought traditional leadership under its control. Most young amakhosi are now members of Contralesa, the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa, which is a structure of the ANC.
President Zuma acknowledged this fact during his speech at the ANC's centennial celebration in Mangaung on the 8th of January this year, when he said, "An important achievement during (the eighties) was the formation of Contralesa, which organised traditional leaders into the ANC, assisting the movement to make further inroads in rural areas." Contralesa is now used to bring amakhosi into the ANC through the back door.
Considering the well-known relationship between the NFP and the ANC, especially in Zululand, it is not surprising that amakhosi could be convinced to vote along certain lines. So the results of yesterday's elections are not surprising. This manoeuver was a long time coming.
While my detractors celebrate what they see as a victory, I am not perturbed. What I do regret, is that I have been proven right again about the extent of corruption within the ANC. Organs of State are now routinely used to further the ANC's political crusades.
During my reply to the State of the Nation Address earlier this year, I warned President Zuma that corruption was eating away at our social fabric and damaging our democratic processes. I warned that corruption is the bane of our country. I warned that corruption is a fundamental threat to our constitutional democracy.
While my warnings go unheeded, South Africa slides closer to the ranks of dysfunctional states.
For the sake of my country and my people, I will not stop sounding these warnings. At my age, I do not need positions or titles to lend authority to what I have to say. My words are backed by a lifetime of accurate predictions and right decisions. Although there are those who will not hear, many will still listen.
PRINCE MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI MP
PRESIDENT OF THE INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY
Note to Editors: Please note that 30 amakhosi voted in Zululand District House of Traditional Leaders elections yesterday.
Statement issued by Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi MP, President of the Inkatha Freedom Party, July 11 2012
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