No plans to redeploy mayor - IFP
STORY: Larry Bentley
Another storm is brewing around IFP Chairperson and Zululand District Mayor, Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi. The party leadership deny rumours that the mayor has been ousted, but speculation is rife that she may be destined for a provincial post vacated by the late Inkosi Ngubane. The party is tight-lipped regarding the matter, saying that the matter will be discussed in Ulundi this weekend. It appears that the mayor has proven her worth within the party and has achieved a high service delivery rating. She is also popular with the masses. Rumours have circulated this week that even the ANC was ‘head-hunting’ kaMagawaza-Msibi, and is encouraging their Women’s League to strike a deal with the mayor. This is not the first time that stories regarding the dismissal of kaMagwaza-Msibi have surfaced. In August last year she publicly refuted allegations of her dismissal by the IFP, saying that her allegiance to IFP President Mangosuthu Buthelezi remained unshaken. She described Buthelezi’s leadership of the party as ‘unparalleled’. It was then claimed that Buthelezi was accusing her of siding with the youth who wanted him and other senior leaders out. This followed the party’s poor showing in the national elections. In a statement, the IFP said it had no plans to remove her as the mayor of the Zululand Municipality and send her to the KwaZulu-Natal legislature. IFP National Co-ordinator, Albert Mncwango, said, ‘We have no plans to redeploy her. It was not even discussed during our last national executive meeting.’
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