Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini of South Africa has addressed his people, denying rumors of being poisoned. In a video released on Monday evening, the monarch reassured the public about his well-being, stating, “I am not poisoned, I am well.”
Over the weekend, the king’s traditional prime minister had claimed that he traveled to neighboring Eswatini for medical treatment, following the sudden death of one of the king’s senior advisers, suspected to be a case of poisoning. However, the king’s spokesperson, Prince Africa Zulu, countered these claims, alleging that there was an orchestrated agenda to spread defamatory and baseless information regarding the king’s health.
The dispute between King Misuzulu and Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi reflects a strained relationship within the royal family, as reported by the BBC’s Nomsa Maseko in Johannesburg. In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, Chief Buthelezi refuted the existence of a growing rift between himself and the king, acknowledging only occasional disagreements, which he likened to those within any other family. He also emphasized that his announcement about the king’s health was not made with malicious intent.
In the video, the visibly healthy king explained that his trip to Eswatini was for a routine medical check-up, contradicting Chief Buthelezi’s claim that the king sought urgent medical attention across the border. The king urged the Zulu people and the royal family not to believe everything they hear.
The ascent of King Misuzulu to the throne has been marred by a bitter power struggle within the royal family, and recent tensions between the monarch and Chief Buthelezi have surfaced. Although the Zulu king holds a ceremonial role without formal political power, he remains highly influential, with a substantial government-funded budget each year.
King Misuzulu’s accession occurred earlier than expected, following the death of his father in March 2021 due to diabetes-related complications. His mother, Queen Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu, briefly served as regent before her passing. Chief Buthelezi dismissed rumors of her poisoning and supported King Misuzulu’s rise to the throne. However, reports indicate that sharp differences have arisen between the two, stemming from a dispute over the chairmanship of the Ingonyama Trust Board, which oversees vast land areas controlled by the monarch. Chief Thanduyise Mzimela was appointed by the king as chairman, a decision contested by Chief Buthelezi due to perceived inexperience, as reported by local media.
Source: BBC
