Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
Paddy Harper’s latest article “Buthelezi poisoning claims suggest loss of influence over monarchy” (Mail & Guardian, 4 July 2023) is vintage Paddy Harper.
In his heyday as a journalist, Paddy Harper often salivated over the demise of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), while he never shied away from departing from the basic tenets of ethical and unbiased journalism by writing about his personal dislike for Prince Buthelezi.
His latest piece reads a bit like an attempt to rehash this old modus operandi.
First, Harper claims that “the latest clash deepens a rift that now appears to be beyond repair” in reference to the relationship between the king, and his traditional prime minister.
This claim is rather odd at best, as both King MisuZulu ka Zwelithini and Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi have, on numerous occasions, indicated that there is no rift between them. In fact, just this week, Prince Africa, the King’s personal assistant, said: “His Majesty believes his traditional prime minister, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, has an important role to play today, tomorrow and moving forward.”
Who should we believe? The king, the traditional prime minister or Paddy Harper’s fabrications? Clearly not the latter.
Harper then bizarrely claims that the matters of the royal family will cost the IFP dearly at the polls in next year’s national and provincial elections.
How so? The IFP is not an extension of the royal family.
We are the fourth largest political party in South Africa. We are the official opposition in KwaZulu-Natal and the only party showing significant growth as we head towards 2024. If matters of the royal family, as he suggests, should negatively affect the fortunes of the IFP, how is it then possible that the IFP continues to win by-election after by-election, even dislodging the ANC in their own strongholds? Clearly his argument falls flat when considering the facts.
Harper then goes on to pontificate about matters of the Ingonyama Trust when he states that “Buthelezi intervened on Ngwenya’s behalf, questioning the king’s decision and threatening to resign and to withdraw his support of Misuzulu”.
Prince Buthelezi never intervened on Jerome Ngwenya’s behalf. He intervened on behalf of the amaZulu nation, to ensure that those who want to do away with the Ingonyama Trust are exposed. Furthermore, it was Buthelezi’s wish to see a smooth transition from the former chairperson to the current dispensation. It is only natural that the author of the Ingonyama Trust would want to ensure the future prosperity of the trust.
Further, Harper knows that if it wasn’t for Prince Buthelezi, King MisuZulu kaZwelithini would not have ascended to the throne. It is the personal sacrifices of Prince Buthelezi that ensured the smooth transition from the late monarch to the current monarch.
That is a fact.
Prince Buthelezi stood alone alongside King MisuZulu, supporting him, guiding him and ensuring that all arrangements were made to recognise him as the legitimate heir
to the throne. He also supported the king at great personal cost, in all the court cases that have been lodged against him by some family members.
That has not and will not change.
Harper then makes his most outrageous claim when he says, “in an apparent attempt to re-establish his currency and authority with the monarchy, Buthelezi on Saturday issued a statement that the king had sought medical attention in eSwatini because of suspected poisoning.”
One wonders what currency Prince Buthelezi could possibly gain from executing his duties as the traditional prime minister? A role he has executed diligently for almost seven decades, serving three kings. Prince Buthelezi has never received a single cent to execute his duties nor has he done so for clout. So he really doesn’t need to seek any type of currency now.
Harper then claims that the IFP is in the process of “alienating the king — and amaKhosi and people who support him” and that this “is likely to cost the party votes next year”.
The opposite is true.
History records that Prince Buthelezi almost sacrificed the IFP’s political future by threatening to stay away from the elections in 1994, wanting to secure the recognition of the monarch and the institution of traditional leadership.
Today the IFP supports the king’s programmes.
We have fought for VIP protection for the king, and for additional funding through the legislature. We are the only party that respects, supports and recognises amakhosi, while the ANC have sought to destroy the institution of traditional leadership.
We are the only party that made mention of the need to support and protect amaKhosi in our 2021 local government manifesto, and we will do so again come 2024. We are the only party, for example, that has capacitated amaKhosi by helping them in our districts with data connectivity and access to medical aids.
Prince Buthelezi has almost single handedly ensured the unity, prosperity and stability of amaZulu nation. That is why amaZulu nation remains grateful for the services of their traditional prime minister who has dedicated his life to the service of the nation.
We know the glory days of Paddy Harper’s journalism career are long over but he seems to be trying to make a comeback through his familiar nonsense and biased journalism.
Give it a rest, Paddy. Unlike your journalism career, the IFP’s star continues to rise. And Prince Buthelezi remains a much-loved and respected elder and traditional prime minister of the Zulu monarch and nation.
Blessed Gwala is the Inkatha Freedom Party’s national chairperson.
The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Mail & Guardian.