A NEW lobby group in Cope is campaigning for Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka to contest for president during the party's first elective conference next month.

A NEW lobby group in Cope is campaigning for Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka to contest for president during the party's first elective conference next month.

Sowetan has learnt that the lobby group met Mlambo-Ngcuka on Monday to discuss her candidacy ahead of the May 27 to May 30 conference.

Last week the Cope Youth Movement snubbed its president Mosiuoa Lekota and endorsed his deputy Mbhazima Shilowa as their preferred presidential candidate.

A member of Cope's national executive committee said the youth movement chose Shilowa because Mlambo-Ngcuka had not confirmed her availability.

"Shilowa's supporters are ready to dump him as soon as it is confirmed that there is a third way. Shilowa and Lekota are more or less the same type of leaders and they are both responsible for Cope's failure."

There were also concerns that both men lacked the credibility to attract business leaders to fund the party ahead of the local government elections next year.

Mlambo-Ngcuka is expected to increase Cope's profile among potential funders.

"She has a better profile in the business sector and has connections with international funders who can help Cope contest next year's elections," said a source.

"But her first task is going to be to recruit credible people with good profiles in the eyes of voters."