Xolani Zulu with KwaZulu-Natal MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Thulasizwe Buthelezi on the day that Zuu was introduced to the people of Mfulamhle in uMzimkhulu, southern KwaZulu-Natal. The MEC is accused of stoking ethnic tensions, political meddling and causing divisions among amaBhaca ethnic group.
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Tensions are escalating in uMzimkhulu as a bitter dispute over traditional leadership divides the Mfulamhle area in southern KwaZulu-Natal.
The Sunday Tribune previously reported on Inkosi Ntobeko Msingaphantsi of the amaBhaca ethnic group, who has accused the KZN MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta), Thulasizwe Buthelezi, of stoking ethnic friction. The row was ignited by Buthelezi's backing of Xolani Zulu to lead Mfulamhle, despite Zulu belonging to the Zulu nation rather than the amaBhaca clan.
Inkosi Msingaphantsi has insisted he would "rather pay the ultimate price" than allow another leader to be installed during his lifetime. He accused Buthelezi of deliberately dividing the amaBhaca people, despite numerous meetings intended to resolve the matter.
Recently, Inkosi Msingaphantsi and his traditional council convened on Workers' Day to discuss the appointment of a traditional prime minister for the amaBhaca.
"We arrived in Mfulamhle and met with the community to discuss the process of installing a traditional prime minister. I promise that this will certainly happen," the Inkosi said.
Msingaphantsi vowed that he would not be dispossessed of his ancestral land by force. He further accused Buthelezi of creating administrative chaos by allowing villages under Mfulamhle to have two Izinduna (headmen).
AmaBhaca traditional leader Inkosi Ntobeki Msingaphantsi has vowed to 'pay the ultimate price' than allow KwaZulu-Natal Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Department to install a new traditonal leader of amaBhaca of Mfulamhle in uMzimkhulu who is not from the area.
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"There is now an Induna under me and an Induna appointed by Zulu," he noted, adding that he intends to take the matter to the court.
"We have no option but to go to court, where the truth will be revealed."
When approached for comment, Xolani Zulu dismissed Msingaphantsi’s plans, asserting that no traditional prime minister would be installed in Mfulamhle under Msingaphantsi’s authority.
"I will tell you one thing: there is only one Inkosi in Mfulamhle, and that is me. There is no other you will ever hear of. Whatever he does, he is simply wasting time because the Inkosi of this area is already known," said Zulu.
Zulu added that he was baffled by Msingaphantsi’s actions, noting that the Cogta MEC had announced his installation "in broad daylight" last December. He described Msingaphantsi’s resistance as "water off a duck's back," stating that he is merely waiting for King Misuzulu kaZwelithini to officially perform the installation.
Meanwhile, the conflict has begun to hit pockets; several Izinduna in Mfulamhle have reportedly stopped receiving their salaries, despite a promise from Buthelezi in December to rectify the issue.
Previously, KZN Cogta spokesperson Senzelwe Mzila maintained that there was nothing improper regarding Zulu’s installation as the traditional leader of Mfulamhle.