THE Inkatha Freedom Party in KwaZulu-Natal has asked its leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi to stand for re-election when the party holds its conference in Ulundi later this month.

This was one of the resolutions of the provincial conference at Esikhawini, outside Empangeni, at the weekend.

Provincial secretary Bonginkosi Buthelezi said the conference resolved to ask Buthelezi to continue because of the ructions in the party caused by intense lobbying for positions ahead of theconference.

The delegates urged Buthelezi to consider the resolution of the national council asking him to remain the "unifying leader of the IFP and to ensure a smooth and democratic succession transition when the time is ripe".

Lobbying, mainly for Buthelezi's position, has caused divisions in the IFP, with party members split into those who support national chairperson Zanele Magwaza-Msibi to replace Buthelezi and those campaigning for general secretary Musa Zondi.

Some IFP members who had openly campaigned for Magwaza-Msibi have been expelled from the party.

Buthelezi has been the leader of the IFP since its inception in the 1970s.

It is noteworthy that the call for Buthelezi to stay on came on the same day the IFP leader was addressing the party's regional congress at Umfolozi on the North Coast onSaturday.