King Misuzulu makes key appointments in stormy week

IN A WEEK where King Misuzulu kaZwelithini found himself the subject of an unprecedented castigation by his siblings, the monarch met with elders and also made key appointments to the Zulu Kingdom Council.

- WILLEM PHUNGULA

This week, the members of the KwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace broke their silence and released a statement in relation to a circulating audio recording where the king was swearing at his sister, Prince Nomkhosi.

The statement, a first from the KwaKhangelamankengane princes and princesses, tore into the king’s conduct and raised the issues of gender-based violence, exemplary leadership and the preservation of the legacy of their late parents, King Zwelithini and Queen Mantfombi.

This week, the king appointed Inkosi Zuzifa Buthelezi, son of the late traditional prime minister of the Zulu monarchy and nation, Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi, as the new chairperson of the Zulu Kingdom Council.

The move is widely seen as a potential step toward grooming him for the role of traditional prime minister.

The appointment was made official on Wednesday morning during a signing ceremony held in Durban. Prince Thulani Zulu of the EziBindini Royal House was also reinstated as the official spokesperson for the royal household at the same event.