JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s Zulu king, head of the country’s most influential traditional monarchy, has undergone “thorough” medical examinations following the sudden death of a close adviser, a spokesman said Sunday, amid suspicions he was poisoned.
The king, who was visiting neighbouring Eswatini, “underwent precautionary and thorough medical exams in a context of Covid and after the sudden death of his close adviser Douglas Xaba”, the spokesman said. Misuzulu Zulu, 48, ascended the throne last year after the death of his father, Goodwill Zwelithini, amid a bitter feud over the royal succession.
Overnight on Saturday, the influential Zulu PM, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, said the monarch had been hospitalised in Eswatini after falling ill. The king believes he was being poisoned, after the sudden and unexpected death of one of his close advisers on Saturday, he said. Xaba “passed on quite suddenly and that there are suspicions that he was poisoned”, added Buthelezi.
The royal spokesman assured that the Zulu king was “in perfect health and is not currently admitted to any hospital”. The spokesman criticised what he said was an “orchestrated agenda” to circulate “baseless claims of His Majesty’s ill health”. Although the title of king of the Zulu nation does not bestow executive power, the monarchs wield great moral influence over more than 11 million Zulus, who make up nearly a fifth of South Africa’s population of 60 million people.
The king, who was visiting neighbouring Eswatini, “underwent precautionary and thorough medical exams in a context of Covid and after the sudden death of his close adviser Douglas Xaba”, the spokesman said. Misuzulu Zulu, 48, ascended the throne last year after the death of his father, Goodwill Zwelithini, amid a bitter feud over the royal succession.
Overnight on Saturday, the influential Zulu PM, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, said the monarch had been hospitalised in Eswatini after falling ill. The king believes he was being poisoned, after the sudden and unexpected death of one of his close advisers on Saturday, he said. Xaba “passed on quite suddenly and that there are suspicions that he was poisoned”, added Buthelezi.
The royal spokesman assured that the Zulu king was “in perfect health and is not currently admitted to any hospital”. The spokesman criticised what he said was an “orchestrated agenda” to circulate “baseless claims of His Majesty’s ill health”. Although the title of king of the Zulu nation does not bestow executive power, the monarchs wield great moral influence over more than 11 million Zulus, who make up nearly a fifth of South Africa’s population of 60 million people.