Cape Town — The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party is looking to work with the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in Kwa-Zulu Natal as it feels both parties share similar ideologies.
The MK Party performed well in its first elections, receiving just over 10% of the votes and 58 seats in Parliament. The party was expected to perform well in KZN and received 45% of the votes, falling just short of a majority. Now the party seeks to find coalition partners to rule in the province.
According to EWN, both have seats in Parliament as well as KZN and Gauteng. MK’s head of elections, Musi Ntshingila, said both parties shared common strategic goals and wanted to bring back the dignity of the Zulu kingdom.
“I think also on the leadership of tribal authority, and the issue of the land. On how we look into the banking systems and the economy in relation to the Ithala bank as an example, which is a bank that seeks to serve the interests of Africans but mostly in KZN.” Ntshingila said.
UPDATE: It has since emerged that the MK Party invited the IFP to coalition talks. The former President Jacob Zuma led party said they shared four common interests, among them being their respect for traditional leadership and the need to revive the economic fortunes of the… pic.twitter.com/cj3U0TX6cL
— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) June 12, 2024
According to News24, MK Party secretary-general, Sihle Ngubane, echoed Ntshingila’s words and said the MK Party had identified “political ideologies and characteristics that seem to point to some similarities of interest between MK Party and IFP.
“Subject to the above pointers, it is warranted that both political parties must [prioritise] to meet and start engaging in relation to coalitions and working together in KwaZulu-Natal,” Ngubane said.
The IFP’s provincial chairperson in KZN, Thami Ntuli, ruled out working with the MK Party as it was “too similar” to the ANC but the party’s president, Velenkosi Hlabisa, did not rule out a coalition with the party.
The meeting took place just 48 hours before the first sitting of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature on Friday, where the premier, speaker and deputy speaker will be elected.
Talks are now underway to form coalitions to govern KZN, with the MK Party expressing its willingness to work with the IFP. MK Party’s head of elections, Muzi Ntshingila says boycotting of Provincial Legislatures will not affect coalition talks with other parties.
Watch:… pic.twitter.com/zD4knECJHn
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) June 12, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
