King Misuzulu says he was excluded from KwaZulu-Natal SADC summit
King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has criticised what he described as his exclusion from the SADC summit hosted in KwaZulu-Natal in August.
AmaZulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has criticised what he described as his exclusion from major official events, including the Southern African Development Community summit hosted in KwaZulu-Natal in August.
The king raised the complaint during the annual uMkhosi woMhlanga ceremony, according to SABC News. His comments were framed as his account of the relationship between the monarchy and government, and not as an independently established finding.
The 46th Ordinary SADC Summit was held in Durban on 17 August. The regional body’s official communiqué records the heads of state and government, ministers and other representatives who attended, but it does not list King Misuzulu among the participants named in the document.
The communiqué says the summit elected President Cyril Ramaphosa as SADC chairperson and dealt with regional integration, industrial development, peace and security. South Africa hosted the gathering while assuming the rotating leadership role.
King Misuzulu’s remarks add to the continuing debate about the ceremonial and public role of the AmaZulu monarchy in KwaZulu-Natal. The provincial government formally recognises the monarch, while elected government retains executive authority.
No response from the Presidency or the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government to the king’s latest comments was available in the material reviewed by EBNewsDaily on Sunday morning. Any response will be added when issued.
The uMkhosi woMhlanga programme continues at royal residences in KwaZulu-Natal, bringing together participants and guests for one of the monarchy’s best-known annual cultural events.