Thulasizwe Buthelezi: Zululand District's Controversial Mayor Appointed as AmaZulu King's Traditional Prime Minister

The regal proceedings at the commemoration of the Battle of Isandlwana took a momentous turn when AmaZulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini appointed Mr. Thulasizwe Buthelezi as the new traditional prime minister of the Zulu nation. This announcement followed the death of the former prime minister and founder of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who passed away on September 9 last year, after a lifetime of service extending into his 95th year.

The new prime minister, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has held the office of the mayor of the Zululand District Municipality, a position that has not been without its challenges and controversies. Within months of his tenure as mayor, he faced a motion of no-confidence, which set the stage for the turbulent political landscape that would characterize his time in office.

Allegations of inciting political violence surfaced in October, with a particularly incendiary comment regarding the political turmoil in Nongoma, a town in northern KwaZulu-Natal. Cited by an IOL report, evidence in the form of a video clip captured Buthelezi's response to the ANC/NFP/EFF coalition that seized control of the Nongoma Municipality from the IFP.

In another instance, back in 2019, accusations of collusion with the group Amadelangokubona came to light. Buthelezi was charged with orchestrating efforts to dismiss the head of the Department of Technical Services, Emannuel Sibusiso Ngcobo, after a dispute over tender processes, leading to heightening fears for Ngcobo's safety.

Amid these controversies, allegations of sexual abuse against female employees in the municipality added to Buthelezi's fraught record. In response, he pointed fingers at ANC provincial secretary Bheki Mtolo and NFP councillors, accusing them of conducting a smear campaign to damage his reputation.

Despite the cloud of these allegations, the role of a Zulu traditional prime minister persists as a largely ceremonial and advisory one, as clarified by Swisher Post. The traditional prime minister is tasked with counseling the king on cultural and communal matters, guiding community welfare, and serving as an intermediary between the monarchy and government bodies.

In his new role as prime minister, Buthelezi will be expected to navigate the intersection of tradition and politics, upholding the legacy of his predecessor while managing the complicated balance between his ceremonial duties and the secular powers of the South African government. His appointment underscores the durability of traditional leadership within the contemporary dynamics of South Africa's nationhood and governance.