Dear residents of KwaZulu Natal 

Last week's by-elections in our province gave us all a foretaste of the upcoming battle ahead of the 2009 general election.

First of all, I would like to congratulate our candidates who won in Nongoma, Mandeni, Ulundi and Jozini as well as everyone who worked very hard on the ground in these wards to make the IFP victory possible. We wouldn't have won without your dedication.

The campaign ahead of these by-elections has once again shown than nothing less than meticulous groundwork and door-to-door canvassing in our constituencies can deliver us the votes we need to take back the province of KwaZulu Natal in 2009.

I have done my best to take the IFP message to every corner of the province ahead of the first IEC voter registration in November.

Alongside our voter registration drive, we have also conducted a comprehensive Listening Campaign to gather input for our 2009 election manifesto. The IFP has thus established physical presence in every corner of KwaZulu Natal, giving the people an opportunity to meet me, as the party's candidate for Premier, in person and hear what I have to offer.   

At the same time, I would like to voice my concern about the increasingly acrimonious tone of campaigning ahead of the 2009 election.

Last week's by-election in Mooi River is a case in point. The by-election was seriously disrupted by a group of several hundred ANC supporters whose displays of political intolerance necessitated a strong police presence.  

It is this sort of behavior that routinely casts a shadow over the regularity of South African elections. The attitude of the authorities and the IEC in particular is crucial in safeguarding the free and fair character of elections.   

It is of course important to act now to prevent voter intimidation and resulting electoral irregularities rather than bemoan them when the ballots have been cast.  

Mayor Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi

IFP KwaZulu Natal Premier Candidate

Contact: Zanele kaMagwaza-Msibi, 082 804 7993