Misuzulu kaZwelithini, Zulu King of South Africa, is undergoing treatment in hospital for a possible poisoning, informed his traditional prime minister. Escaping a treatment in South Africa, the king preferred a treatment in Eswatini, Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi added.
According to Buthelezi, one of the king’s senior advisers allegedly died of poisoning, before the king sought treatment for himself. But the king was in “perfect health”, according to his official spokesman.
Indirectly referring to Chief Buthelezi’s statement, Prince Africa Zulu said that the king was at the time out of hospital, and “unnecessary panic” was not needed.
Misuzulu was crowned king last October. However, since then the 48-year-old monarch has been at the centre of the power tussle within the royal family. Part of his family has challenged his position in court, claiming that he is not the rightful heir of the last king, his father Goodwill Zwelithini. According to them late king Goodwill Zwelithini second son, Prince Simakade, should sit on the throne.
Even though the Zulu king wield much political power and his authority over South African society is also nominal, he receives huge annual government-funded budget extending to several million dollars which has made his position influential to some extent.
One of King Zwelithini’s six wives, Queen Sibongile Dlamini-Zulu, and her two daughters has challenged his will in court. The king has 26 children. They were determined to appeal again after a court rejected their case in 2022.
Till now no evidence has been found to suggest involvement of any family members being behind King Misuzulu’s suspected poisoning. The police in South African have also not said anything on the claims.
Chief Buthelezi officially said that Douglas Xaba, King Misuzulu’s senior aide, “passed on quite suddenly and that there are suspicions that he was poisoned”. Douglas Xaba always stayed with the King.
“When His Majesty began to feel unwell, he suspected that he too may have been poisoned. “He immediately sought out medical treatment in Eswatini. I am informed that His Majesty felt uncomfortable seeking treatment in South Africa, as his parents had both received treatment in South Africa and subsequently died,” said Buthelezi.
In another of his statement, Prince Africa stated that there seems to be an “orchestrated agenda and a desperate narrative to communicate defamatory and baseless claims” about the king’s health. “Ultimately, this creates unnecessary panic and perceptions of instability in the Royal Crown,” he added.
