PRESS STATEMENT BY
THE INKATHA FREEDOM PARTY

TRADITIONAL GOVERNMENT IS NOT UNDEMOCRATIC, SAYS IFP

DURBAN :  26 JULY, 2000

The Inkatha Freedom Party has rejected insinuations that the traditional system of government is undemocratic.The party said this in a statement issued today, in reaction to the report that Minister Sydney Mufamadi had said that traditional leaders had no reason to fear democracy. The IFP Spokesperson Inkosi Wellington Hlengwa said:

"The statement attributed to Minister Mufamadi is unfortunate. To say that traditional leaders must not fear democracy is unfair on them because it insinuates that this African-grown system of government is not democratic, hence those involved in it fear democracy. It has always been a mischievous and arrogant foreign attitude, which has sought to portray all things African as undemocratic and thus not progressive. Unfortunately some among our people have swallowed this poison."

"All those who follow the debate around dermacation know that the traditional leaders' objection is not about the principle of elected local government. They are already part of it. The issue is that those at the forefront of the dermacation process, are propelled by the belief that the traditional system of government is archaic and does not belong in the modern democratic system-whatever that means. They are bent on dislodging this indigenous system of government."

" The IFP says that this is Africa. While we are prepared to learn from other cultures, we reject the arrogant attitude which presents the western systems of government as divine. We must retain the best from our system and improve what needs improvement."

"The IFP hopes that the Minister will act swiftly and decisively to diffuse the fear he has alluded to, in the best interests of our country."

For Further Information

Inkosi Wellington Hlengwa, MP 083 309 8915 
IFP Media Office