King Misuzulu fires Ingonyama Trust Board chair, Thanduyise Mzimela

DURBAN - Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has fired Ingonyama Trust board chairperson, Chief Thanduyise Mzimela. 

For the first time ever, the Ingonyama Trust board, which oversees almost three million hectares of land in the province, will now be chaired by its sole trustee – the king.

Last year, the Zulu monarch removed the longest-serving chairperson of the board and appointed Mzimela of the Mazimelweni clan. 

And now, just a few months later, the Zulu king has changed his decision again. 

Last year, the king defied his traditional prime minister, the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, by changing the leadership of the board just days after committing that he would not. 

This saw their relationship going sour, with Buthelezi publicly announcing that the king was making it difficult for him to continue serving as prime minister. 

This latest change also comes after the recent appointment of Zululand district mayor, Thulasizwe Buthelezi, as traditional prime minister.