Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini Declares Sovereignty Over Land Amidst Ingonyama Trust Dispute

In a stirring address during the opening of the KwaZulu-Natal provincial legislature at Woodburn Stadium in Pietermaritzburg, Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini made a strong declaration regarding the land governed by the Ingonyama Trust Board. This comes amid ongoing disputes with land reform and rural development minister Mzwanele Nyhontso and other government officials regarding the control of the land.

King Misuzulu articulated his exhaustion with the government's handling of the Zulu land, emphasizing that the land in question was hard-won by his ancestors, not freely given or a subject of governmental favor. This land, as per the king, belongs unequivocally to the Zulu nation, famously resilient warriors historically recognized as "amadelamzimba" (those who fear not death).

WATCH: KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli is delivering the state of the province address in Pietermaritzburg.
King Misuzulu KaZwelithini is in attendance as a guest after he officially opened the legislature yesterday - The News Box pic.twitter.com/LqZnVFjmkw

— Sihle Mavuso (@ZANewsFlash) February 28, 2025

This statement comes in response to recent actions by Minister Nyhontso attempting to exert control over the Ingonyama Trust Board—which manages the land under traditional stewardship—and the resultant friction. The king's attempted dissolution of the board was met with resistance and was subsequently reversed by Nyhontso. Tensions escalated when the King refused to meet a delegation sent by Nyhontso, officially due to ill health, leading to a complex interaction with other members of the Zulu royal family instead.

The backdrop of this dispute is rich with historical context. The late king, Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, had similar confrontations with the government, particularly when attempts were made under former president Kgalema Motlanthe to absorb the Ingonyama Trust land into state control in 2018. These attempts were paused amidst significant pushback from the Zulu nation.

Moreover, in his address, King Misuzulu did not only focus on land issues but also highlighted the pressing concerns of rampant crime, gender-based violence, and the recent loss of 14 soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, showing his engagement with broader societal issues impacting his people.

The provincial premier, Thamsanqa Ntuli, responded to the king’s passionate discourse by affirming the commitment of the provincial government to address these critical issues, promising to ignite new hope in the hearts of the citizens.

As the Zulu nation continues to grapple with these land governance challenges, the words of King Misuzulu resonate as a reminder of the deep-rooted historical and cultural significance of the land they occupy, and the ongoing struggle for autonomy and respect in governance matters.