Buthelezi lambasted, told to get out of Zulu monarchy’s affairs

THE LATEST tension in the Zulu monarchy played out yesterday after some members of the royal family called another impromptu press conference where they lambasted Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, telling him to get out of their affairs.

Royal sources said the press conference at which Buthelezi was bashed was a culmination of the anger bottled up by senior Princess Thembi Ndlovu (nee Zulu), Prince Mbonisi and others.

They arrived at the Khangela palace in Nongoma to mourn the passing of Queen Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu, and during that time asked for an audience with Buthelezi, who on Sunday rebuked them.

Buthuelezi told the princess she currently had no role in royal affairs, as she was married. He also told Prince Mbonisi that he was born out of wedlock.

However, Buthelezi, who came to the palace with about 12 headmen of his clan yesterday, reportedly heard about that and scuppered their plans by ignoring them and took part in a long royal meeting that included Prince Thulani, the spokesperson of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini.

Frustrated, the princess and the prince and some four others called a press conference a few metres outside the palace to vent.

Speaking first, the princess, who has been in the public eye for weeks now, said it was disturbing that they were being locked out of their palaces, and the person who was doing this was someone they looked up to as a father figure, who was also insulting them.

She added that they didn’t like what they were doing, but they were forced by the harsh treatment they were getting from Buthelezi.

She told Buthelezi that his time as the traditional prime minister to the king ended long ago, and he must pack and go.

“We want to meet the Prince (Buthelezi) and (he must) not chuck us out of our own home, because exactly what he is doing is expelling from our own home and occupy it himself. His time (as Zulu traditional prime minister) ended long ago. The reason why he is still in that position is because we respect him. We are told that he was the (traditional) prime minister of King Bhusha (King Cyprian Bhekuzulu, the father of King Goodwill Zwelithin). The king (Goodwill Zwelithini) never had a prime minister, and the next one will appoint his own prime minister,” she said.

The princess repeated her claims that Buthelezi was conducting royal meetings with an iron fist, even chastising senior and female members of the royal family. “The prince just shrug off our female elders, capitalising on the fact that they respect him, that is the challenge we have. He just tells everyone what to do without consulting anyone from the royal house. The prince does what comes from his head,” she claimed.

On Sunday evening, Buthelezi denied these claims.

Despite the many salvos they fired at Buthelezi, they said they wanted a meeting with him to iron out their differences. They also said they were open to reconciliation talks in order to restore unity in the royal house. “We are very willing (to reconcile), otherwise we wouldn’t be here. Every morning, we come this side (Khangela palace) to see if things are going ok,” the princess said.

Meanwhile, the royal house has announced that Dlamini Zulu would be buried at dawn on Thursday. Her memorial service will be held on Friday.