King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has accused his traditional prime minister, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, of attempting to strong-arm him into removing the newly appointed chairperson of the Ingonyama Trust board in exchange for his co-operation in the legal battle concerning his ascendance to the throne.
According to a letter from King Misuzulu to Buthelezi, his majesty said his traditional prime minister has used the upcoming court battle for the throne to try to force him to fire Inkosi Thanduyise Mzimela as board chair.
Buthelezi’s spokesperson confirmed the authenticity of the letter.
In it, King Misuzulu said Buthelezi has delayed, by three months, filing an answering affidavit in the matter challenging his appointment as Zulu king.
“During my communication with you through your son Zuzifa Buthelezi on the night of May 15, it became evident that your reluctance to attend to the signing of the answering affidavit was not related to any issues contained in the aforesaid affidavit.
“To the contrary, your reluctance to sign the answering affidavit appears to be emanating from an unrelated issue,” the letter reads.
Among issues raised in the letter is the demand that Mzimela tender his resignation as Ingonyama Trust board chairperson.
“I was informed by your son that for reasons unknown to me, you persist in your view that the chairperson of the board should be someone with legal expertise.
“I was further informed that the signing of the answering affidavit on behalf of yourself is conditional on the aforesaid demands.
“As a result of this unfortunate impasse, I regret to inform you of my decision to terminate the mandate of Strauss Daly Inc acting on our behalf and to appoint new attorneys to act on my behalf.”
This comes as Buthelezi called a May 26 imbizo to brief on developments surrounding the trust and its board. The meeting is expected to discuss the appointment of Mzimela, a decision TimesLIVE has learnt Buthelezi does not approve of.
“I can confirm there is a meeting of amakhosi, called by the traditional prime minister, which will be held on Friday May 26 at 10am in Empangeni, at the Imbizo Teachers' Hall,” said his spokesperson Liezl van der Merwe.
“As per his previous statements on the matter, the prime minister, as the author of the Ingonyama Trust, will brief amakhosi on recent developments affecting the trust and the board,” she added.
Van der Merwe emphasised that “the prime minister has advised his majesty of this meeting”.
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