National Freedom Party president Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi has warned IFP president Mangosuthu Buthelezi to stay away from her party’s affairs.
Speaking at her party’s first national elective conference, held in Pietermaritzburg on Sunady, KaMagwaza-Msibi was reacting to a speech Buthelezi made at the IFP’s provincial conference in Durban, also at the weekend.
Buthelezi had accused the “Friends of VZ”, former IFP members who left to form the NFP, of having corrupted his party.
“Buthelezi is a leader I respect and I don’t want to keep responding to his statements about us, but I feel tempted to say his statement umbhedo (is nonsense).
“His party is dying, but he keeps paying attention to our ever growing party,” she said.
As expected, KaMagwaza-Msibi was elected NFP president unopposed at the two-day event. She outlined the party’s policies, which were adopted at the start of the event.
The NFP rejected the ANC Youth League’s call for the government to nationalise the country’s mines.
“The NFP wishes to assure the business sector that nationalisation is not an option; not only at this time when the world economy is unstable, but more so for the many uncertainties that it creates,” she said.
The NFP leader took a swipe at the system of labour broking, describing it as the oppression of workers.
KaMagwaza-Msibi also said the party would not tolerate indiscipline.
Elected as KaMagwaza-Msibi’s deputy was Alex Kekana, Maliyakhe Shelembe is national chairman, Mandlenkosi Mabika the deputy chairman, Professor Nhlanhla Khubisa becomes secretary-general and Phumlani Zwane is his deputy.