Mzimba Ngonis to summon Zulu king over xenophobia

During the annual cultural uMthetho Festival, Ngonis from various countries such as South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique and even Zimbabwe are invited to participate at such prestigious cultural event.

Which is why the Mzimba Heritage Association has decided to use this platform to summon King Goodwill Zwelithini to condemn his conduct for initiating the killings of foreigners in South Africa, commonly known as xenophobia.

It is widely believed that King Zwelithini sparked attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa after he called for the deportation of foreign nationals living in the country, saying it was unacceptable that locals were being made to compete with people from other countries for the few economic opportunities available.

Speaking at a Pongolo community meeting in March, Zwelithini acknowledged that while other nations had participated in efforts which led to South Africa’s liberation, that should not be considered an excuse for foreigners to cause inconvenience in the country now by competing with locals for scarce economic opportunities.

Contending that he was free to say what politicians were not, Zwelithini asked foreigners return to their native lands since, he maintained, South African nationals in diaspora had not gone on to open businesses in host countries.

These observations were made during a time of growing unease between South Africans and foreigners, violence having erupted in Soweto in January and spread to KwaZulu-Natal, resulting in three deaths.

The Democratic Alliance’s spokesperson, calling for a public retraction and apology, criticised the remarks as “highly irresponsible”, while the South African Human Rights Commission labelled them xenophobic in light of recent attacks on foreigners.

Alleged to have sparked violence against non-nationals, Zwelithini’s remarks about anti-social behaviour and the desirability of foreigners are believed to be responsible for the violence as South Africans did not distinguish between legal and illegal immigrants. His spokesperson subsequently said that he was referring only to those present in the country illegally.

Chairperson of Mzimba Heritage Association, Spencer Mhone, told On the Arts this week that the killings of foreigners has portrayed a negative image of the Ngoni people; hence, the association’s plot to summon Zwelithini for counselling at this year’s uMthetho festival to be held in August.

Zwelithini is the reigning King of the Zulu nation under the traditional leadership clause of South Africa’s Constitution.

Mhone said what the Ngoni king did is not in line with the Ngoni tribes’ way of living.

“What His Majesty, Zwelithini did is parallel to our way of living, the Ngoni are known for living with other tribes, we are surprised that he behaves in such a way. What must be clear is that people who are suffering as a result of xenophobia are his relatives who just immigrated from Natal and Swaziland in Southern Africa to other countries,” said the Mzimba Heritage chair.

“Zwelithini is a relative; he has been in touch with the late Inkosiya Makosi Mbelwa IV, and they used to visit each other quite often. It will not be strange for the association to call him for counselling. We are already in touch with his cousin Mangosuthu Buthelezi on the issue,” he said.

According to Mhone, the initiative to counsel Zwelithini is part of the Mzimba Heritage Association responsibilities of promoting oneness among all members of African tribes.

“Africa is one. We all have similar cultural backgrounds and origins; there is no way we should accept someone to divide us. As an association, we stand to promote oneness among the members of all African tribes,” said Mhone.

Umthetho is a Ngoni annual cultural festival that is celebrated in August at Hora in Mzimba district.

This will be the fourth uMthetho celebration since the establishment of Mzimba Heritage Association in 2000.