The Zulu royal house on Wednesday defended King Misuzulu kaZwelithini’s decision to fire KwaZulu-Natal Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) MEC Thulasizwe Buthelezi as Zulu nation prime minister last Christmas, only to reappoint him less than a year later on Tuesday. In his dismissal of Buthelezi on Christmas Day last year, the King said Buthelezi’s behaviour had been inconsistent with the royal house’s values. However, many were taken by surprise when the King reappointed him to the same position this week.
The King’s spokesperson, Prince Thulani Zulu, said there was no reason for public astonishment, saying that it is the monarch’s prerogative to appoint and relieve a prime minister. When the King decided to relieve Reverend Buthelezi of his duties he had no obligation to provide reasons for his decision. The same applies to his reappointment.
He added that despite being dismissed last year, Buthelezi “remained loyal and faithful to the King. Even while serving as KZN Cogta MEC, he continued to support the King’s programmes. So, to me, it came as no surprise when the King decided to reappoint him”.
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Prince Zulu described Buthelezi’s return as “a decisive step in building an efficient and accountable governance architecture for the Zulu kingdom”. The letter also defines the prime minister as the “chief executive authority of the Zulu Kingdom beneath the King”. Buthelezi will head the Prime Minister’s Executive Council (PMEC), which the King described as the Zulu kingdom’s “highest decision-making body” and the final approving authority for all initiatives and programmes before implementation.
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