Powerful South African Zulu King, Misuzulu KaZwelithini has been hospitalized in Eswatini after he was feared to have been poisoned, his traditional Prime Minister, Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, confirmed in a statement on Sunday.
Buthelezi said the Zulu King sought medical attention in a hospital after he felt uncomfortable with seeking treatment in South Africa following the sudden death of one of his senior advisers, Douglas Xaba who was the King’s Induna or Headman,
who was also suspected of being poisoned.
Though the true state of health of King KaZwelithini is not clear, conflicting statements from Buthelezi and his spokesperson, Prince Africa Zulu, have fuelled anxiety around the health of the Zulu King.
While Buthelezi’s statement said King KaZwelithin was being treated in the Kingdom of Eswatini after fears that he could have been poisoned, Prince Africa’s statement, however, countered the claim that the monarch is in the hospital.
“It is with great concern that I have received news from HRH Prince Vumile, brother to His Majesty King Mswati III, that His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini is being treated in a hospital in eSwatini, having taken ill earlier today,” Buthelezi’s statement said.
“I am informed that His Majesty’s senior Induna, Mr Xaba, who stayed with the King, passed on quite suddenly and that there are suspicions that he was poisoned.
“When His Majesty began to feel unwell, he suspected that he too may have been poisoned. He immediately sought out medical treatment in eSwatini.
“I am informed that His Majesty felt uncomfortable seeking treatment in South Africa, as his parents, King Goodwill Zwelithini and Queen Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu, had both received treatment in South Africa and subsequently died. It is understood that His Majesty is under medical care and is doing well,” Buthelezi said in his statement.
However, Prince Africa’s statement disputes the one issued by Buthelezi, denying that the Zulu King is admitted in a hospital in Swaziland.
“It appears that there is an orchestrated agenda and a desperate narrative to communicate defamatory and baseless claims of His Majesty’s ill health,” he said.
“King Misuzulu is in good health and has not been admitted to any hospital in the neighbouring kingdom. His Majesty wishes to once again reassure the nation that he remains in perfect health and is not currently admitted at any hospital.
“His Majesty frequently pays courtesy visits to Swaziland to go see his uncle, His Majesty King Mswati. The office of the King felt it prudent that during this visit, the King should undergo a thorough medical examination while there.
“This was informed by the context of our current times of pandemics such as Covid-19 and other dangerous ailments. His Majesty’s office decided to err on the side of caution and ensure that all possible impediments were tested, in order to mitigate against any untimely eventuality, given the reports of Mr. Xaba’s sudden passing”, he added.