IFP national chairperson and former Zululand district mayor Zanele Magwaza-Msibi will be sworn in at the KwaZulu-Natal legislature today.

She replaces party stalwart Nyanga Ngubane, who passed away in January.

IFP national organiser Albert Mncwango confirmed the redeployment, but could not say who would replace her.

Party insiders said former premier Lionel Mtshali had been tipped as district mayor. Some IFP members and Zululand residents expressed reservations about Mtshali.

"We have learnt that there had been five names of possible replacements, but now there are two hot favourites in Mtshali and Sibusiso Nkwanyana, said Zamani Nene, secretary of the Unity for Democracy and Change.

"Ulundi deputy mayor Joanne Manana's name has also been touted as a possible replacement, but we prefer Nkwanyana," Nene said.

He said though Nkwanyana was young, he had experience in local government and was also a Zululand resident.

"Mtshali lives in Durban. The IFP lost the province through him and we can't afford to lose Zululand as well.

"If he is forced on the people, the party will suffer and lose Zululand," Nene said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Magwaza-Msibi sympathisers are expected to converge on Pietermaritzburg today. Buses have been hired to ferry them to the provincial legislature.

Sowetan has learnt that more than 10 buses will leave from Durban, while other buses will transport more people from Empangeni.