"Today, we gather in our twenty-fifth year as party seasoned by the adversity and the trials of the turbulent last twenty-five years, but with a fresh determination to win and serve at the beginning of the new century"

said Mr. L.P.H.M. Mitshali, MPP, the IFP's National Chairman and the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, at a IFP election rally in Mkuse, Ubombo.

"We are fighting these municipal elections with the campaign 'Leading the struggle for development.' The IFP since its inception in 1975 has been a crusading party for development."

"I recall as far back as 1973, Dr Buthelezi looked forward to a time when all South African's would enjoy political freedom, but stressed that in the meantime we also needed to uplift ourselves to give meaning to that freedom."

"Through our country's darkest hour, he remained with single-minded purpose and clarity of thinking, a consistent advocate of all our people by their self-help and self-reliance - something even our most ardent critics would have to concede."

"We delivered development in the KwaZulu government, when the ANC said 'liberation before education.' We were vilified for doing so, but we knew that it was the right thing to do."

"That struggle for development has continued unabated up to the present day. The IFP led government in KwaZulu-Natal leads development in the province. "The Xoshindlala campaign ("Chase Away Hunger") is an example of how we are committed to the alleviation of rural poverty by assisting communities to empower themselves. The project was started in 1999 and thus far, a total of 1 022 projects have been planned and implemented. The projects have just over 27 000 participants with about 250 000 beneficiaries."

"In response to the HIV / AIDS pandemic, we have taken a lead by launching AIDS challenge 2000, a programme of action aimed at reducing the rate and level of HIV / AIDS infection with the ultimate aim of creating an AIDS free society within a generation. These are but two examples."

"Other political party's have recently started talking about development as if it is a new idea or concept. But is only the IFP that has a proven track record of delivering development."

"That includes the IFP led council here in Umbobo which has an excellent record of development and is part of the Umbobo Special Development Project, initiated by my predecessor."

"The IFP has always believed though that solutions to the nation's most serious challenges will come from within our communities and because local government is the closest sphere of government to the people, it is well placed to lead and drive development in South Africa."

"That is why these elections at the beginning of the new century are perhaps the most significant we have faced yet. The development of all South African 's is the nations primary challenge and we are determined to deliver it."

"In these elections all the candidates we are fielding have signed a binding 'Code of Conduct' to ensure that they adhere to the highest standards in public life. We will expect all our councillors to promote excellence in all their activities. The IFP will not tolerate fraud or corruption in local government and anyone who engages in them will be immediately removed from office."

"We will always remember that 'we are the servants, the people are the masters.'

"Our Charter for Development begins by saying that we are:

'Committed to the philosophy of self-help and self-reliance and [believing] that development holds the key to the true liberation of the people of South Africa'.

"The Charter is our contract with the people. It contains the principles with which we shall govern. The people who live in IFP led councils should expect no less."

"In local government we reject ideological dogma and choose practical solutions that work and are most effective in delivering services such as water and electricity. We will work with the private sector, create public private partnerships and outsource local government services if they increase efficiency and obtain best value for the taxpayer."

"In housing provision we reject the 'top-down' approach of the government. Rather we will work with local communities and the private sector to develop low cost, high quality housing schemes, which people themselves will play a full part in designing and building."

"In fighting crime, the government's national strategy clearly is not working. The IFP believe because local councils are the closest element of government to the people, they are best placed to mobilise communities in the fight against crime. We will therefore work closely with local communities to help rebuild trust in the police, expand neighbourhood schemes and enhance the role of Community Police Forums."

"It is time to create a community driven approach in which the decent majority work together against the criminal activities of the minority. The home should be a safe haven for children and our streets should be safe for our elderly. We will be tough on crime, and well be tough on the causes of crime."

"The IFP does not believe it is simple enough just to be tough on crime, but we actually have to use local government to deal with the causes of crime. More than anything, that means uprooting poverty."

"Poverty has a tragic chain effect that ripples throughout our society. It is experienced at worse when one is hungry, cold, without shelter and lives in fear; but directly or indirectly we all experience its effects. All of us are diminished by the dreadful legacy of poverty in our country."

"We believe that the government, be it national or local government is limited in its capacity to prescribe development programmes and in itself simply cannot actually provide the kind of development South Africa needs to take it forward."

"We do believe though that our people are the nations greatest asset and that local government as the closest sphere of government to the people is best placed to give people the tools of self-help and self-reliance to help themselves."

"In each and every council, we will introduce a development office for development that will offer a wide range of services, including, 'know how' information on creating business plans and advice on how to access venture capital for new businesses."

"For those people who missed out on the opportunity to have a formal education or those who need to retrain, we will introduce and extend adult education and training programmes (ABET)."

"We will create new partnerships with businesses to create technological centres in the deprived and urban areas equipped with computers and tutors to provide access to the Internet and an opportunity for people to develop their computer skills."

"These are just some of the proposals in our comprehensive programme for delivery. Our programme for development will ensure no one is left behind."

"Our vision and programme for local government is so far reaching, so revolutionary, it will transform the delivery of development in our country."

"In 1998, the State President addressing the National Assembly quoted the African-American poet, Langston Hughes, when he wrote - 'What happens to a dream deferred?'  -  'It explodes.'"

"The reality is that the ever widening poverty and inequality gap in our country, the resulting spiralling crime and the HIV AIDS pandemic that is decimating the lives of millions of people threatens to engulf the dreams and hopes of that sustains the new South Africa."

"'Leading the struggle for development' captures the very essence of Inkatha; it is the heart and soul of our identity; it gives expression to everything we do; and without it as a political movement, we would cease to have meaning."

"I urge you to take the Charter for Development and the party's message back to your communities and tell them that a vote for the IFP on December 5th is a vote for development and delivery to begin on December 6th" said Mr L.P.H.M Mshali, MPP.

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