By Celani Sikhakhane
Traditional leaders in KwaZulu-Natal have called an urgent meeting with the traditional prime minister to the Zulu monarch to discuss their dissatisfaction with the snubbing of Inkosi Sifiso Shinga, the chairperson of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders and Khoi-San.
On Wednesday afternoon many traditional leaders flocked to Durban hotels to prepare for the urgent meeting that will be held at the offices of Public Works in Mayville on Thursday morning.
The leaders are complaining about what they call the frustrating treatment of their chairperson by the provincial government and the Zulu monarch.
Several traditional leaders who spoke on condition of anonymity told Scrolla.Africa on Wednesday afternoon that the rift between their chairperson and the Zulu monarch is affecting them badly.
On at least two royal occasions Inkosi Shinga has been left off the list of speakers with the excuse that the programme was running over time.
“We are very concerned about the new tendency which has been seen to be a normal practice lately towards Inkosi Shinga. They started this ill treatment towards him during the installation of Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi of the Mbongombongweni clan.
“During that event Inkosi Shinga was blocked from addressing the event and he was told that he would not be included on the programme because of time,” said an angry traditional leader.
He said after Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi’s installation ceremony, Inkosi Shinga was again snubbed during the first leg of the Reed Dance held in Ngwavuma near the eSwatini border.
King Misuzulu’s spokesperson, Prince Simphiwe Zulu of kwaMinyamanzi, told Scrolla.Africa that Inkosi Shinga was advised he wouldn’t address the Reed Dance because the ceremony was already running against time for the King’s speech
One traditional leader said that what frustrates them is that time, however, was given to guests from outside the country and politicians to address the 40th anniversary revival of the Reed Dance held at eNyokeni Royal Palace last weekend.
“Inkosi Shinga is still at the early stage of his five-year term after we elected him in 2022 to replace Inkosi Phathisizwe Chiliza. Therefore we still need him as our chairperson.
“That is why we have called this urgent meeting with the prime minister to discuss issues and find an amicable solution,” another traditional leader told Scrolla.Africa after his arrival in Durban.
Scrolla.Africa has learned that the rift with King Misuzulu KaZwelithini started when Inkosi Shinga was accused of blocking traditional leaders from attending King Misuzulu’s special meeting, called to discuss the government’s attempt to transfer some of the traditional leaders’ powers over their Ingonyama Trust land to the minister of land reform.
It was then alleged that Inkosi Shinga colluded with certain ANC leaders to frustrate the King over the matter.
Pictured above: Amakhosi in KwaZulu-Natal have called an urgent meeting to discuss the snubbing of Inkosi Sifiso Shinga at the Zulu Royal events.
Source: X/Sihle Mavuso
