Inkatha Freedom Party boycotts parliament

Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) announced the suspension of its active participation in both chambers of parliament and in the constitution-making process. IFP leader Chief Gatsha Mangosutho Buthelezi felt that his party was left with no choice after the African National Congress (ANC) and the National Party (NP) had reneged on an agreement to invite international mediation on the constitutional differences between them and Inkatha. Throughout the drafting of the interim constitution in 1993, Buthelezi had been calling for the establishment of a federal state with much power given to KwaZulu-Natal. He further claimed that his party only agreed to participate in the first democratic election in April 1994, after the ANC and NP had committed themselves to the issue of mediation. He accused the two of deception and delaying tactics in the process, rendering his party ineffective in parliament. Buthelezi stated that it was becoming politically impossible for his party to participate in parliament, hence the need to boycott it. He promised to review his party's decision seriously by March if certain demands that were made by him, were met.