THE royal battle between Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi and his rivals has grown bitter. Buthelezi last week pointed fingers at “latter-day busy-bodies” who were in the “forefront” of campaigns to “villify”him.
He was referring to other players in the royal battle:
Prince Clement. A former Iscor employee, he is now based inside the Royal Palace and was the only other person present at the Zwelethini-Mcwayizeni indaba. He had been mentioned earlier as a strong candidate for the post of”senior adviser”.
He was a powerful figure at the time of Zwelethini’s coronation as monarch in 1971. When Buthelezi was desperate to meet Zwelethini shortly before his inauguration, he was told to speak to Zwelethini via Prince Clement. But Buthelezi by-passed the prince to speak to Zwelethini.
Prince Zebulon. A source said his Nongoma home had been attacked sometime ago, forcing him to flee for a while. The source said the attack took place at a time when Prince Zebulon was involved in efforts to woo the monarch. Buthelezi appears to have little respect for the prince, referring to him in a speech last weekend as “one” Zebulon Zulu.
Princess Nonhlahla. Eldest daughter of Zwelethini’s predecessor and father, King Cyprian, sources said she holds the key to the palace. If subjects want a first- time audience with the monarch, they need to meet her. If she approves of them, she will introduce them to Zwelethini.