King fluffs it again with praise for Nats

08 December 2015 - 02:25 By Nathi Olifant

Oops, the Zulu king has done it again. Members of the Zulu royal household moved swiftly yesterday to implement damage control following comments made by King Goodwill Zwelithini that the country fared better during apartheid.The king reportedly praised the National Party, saying it had "built a mighty army" and that the economy was stronger under its reign.He was speaking at Nongoma at a gala dinner in KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace, held to celebrate his 44 years on the throne on Saturday night.He was quoted as saying the apartheid regime had built a powerful government with the strongest economy and army on the continent, "but then came this so-called democracy" in "which black people started destroying the gains of the past".Zwelithini also said he was born in the same year the National Party came to power.The comments come shortly after an SA Human Rights Commission draft report into the monarch's comments which were said to have spurred on xenophobic attacks earlier this year.The report found that the king's comments were hurtful and harmful, but didn't incite violence.While the king's handlers said yesterday Zwelithini had been quoted out of context, political analysts said the comments were misguided.Strained relations with the ruling ANC have become apparent following the closure of the department of royal household last year, and a series of other events have put the king and the government on a collision course.KwaZulu-Natal ANC spokesman Mdumiseni Ntuli said: "I have not heard or seen the statement of King Goodwill Zwelithini. However, I can confidently assure you that there is absolutely no fallout whatsoever between his majesty and the ANC."The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal expressed annoyance at Zwelithini's remarks, saying the party was "deeply disappointed. We find them reckless and damaging," said DA leader in KwaZulu-Natal Zwakele Mncwango."We find it irresponsible for a leader to admire a cruel and oppressive regime that for years and years oppressed, killed and exploited people of colour."We think the monarchy should instead acknowledge that things were not so rosy in this country under apartheid," he said.Mncwango said the Zulu king should also not forget that the "strongest army on the continent" he referred to "massacred his own people, leaving orphans and widows".Zwelithini's spokesman, Prince Thulani Zulu, said the king had been quoted out of context." He said there were good and bad things that were done during apartheid and he was reflecting [on] some of those issues."..

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