REVEREND Thulasizwe Buthelezi, the traditional prime minister to the Zulu monarch has accused the KZN government of showing disrespect to King Misuzulu and failure to maintain a positive working relationship with him.
This accusation follows the decision by the KZN Prime Minister's Office to sack King Misuzulu's esteemed praise singer Buzetsheni Mdletshe without consulting the King.
Mdletshe, who also served as the King's cultural adviser, was fired with immediate effect.
Buthelezi expressed concern over the absence of a personal assistant for the King, a role he deems crucial for the monarch's daily activities.
This came after the KZN Prime Minister's Office sacked King Misuzulu’s legendary praise singer Buzetsheni Mdletshe.
Rev Buthelezi said the Prime Minister’s Office didn't consult the King before sacking his praise singer who was also the King’s cultural adviser. He said the KZN government also failed to provide the King with a personal assistant who holds an important position in the King’s daily life.
Rev Buthelezi, who was recently appointed by King Misuzulu as traditional minister and his spokesman, said it appears the relationship between the KZN government, the Zulu royal family and the King is beginning to show cracks.
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"There's evidence that the government is making decisions that affect the King without consulting him.
"As I speak, no one has informed the King that the contract of his singer, who works for the government, has been cancelled. The KZN government doesn't want to work with the royal family and recognise that the King is on the throne and show him respect he deserves," he claimed.
Buthelezi added that the government was pushing the King’s praise singer away after he refused to break Zulu royal protocol to introduce the King when he was instructed by Siboniso Duma, KZN's MEC for Economic Development and Environmental Affairs, to introduce the King, thereby subverting protocol whereby the King is introduced by the prime minister.
Spokesman for the KZN Prime Minister's Office Bongi Gwala Mdletshe was employed by the KZN government until his retirement on 31 December 2020 at age 65.
"He received all his emoluments in full in January 2021. At the request of the late King Zwelithini, Mdletshe’s employment contract with the government was extended for another two years beyond his mandatory retirement age to continue serving His Majesty as a praise singer and to train and mentor young and up and coming praise singers.
"Two praise singers were identified and mentored by Mdletshe. Today, Mqondisi Mkhize is employed in the Prime Minister's Office to provide praise singing for His Majesty," he said.
