South Africa’s Zulu king, the head of the country’s most powerful traditional monarchy, has undergone “thorough” medical checks in the aftermath of the sudden death of a close aide, a spokeswoman said Sunday, amid fears that he was poisoned.
The monarch, who was visiting neighboring Eswatini at the time, “underwent precautionary and thorough medical exams in the context of Covid and after the sudden death of his close adviser,” Douglas Xaba, explained Prince Africa Zulu, who was reached by phone by AFP.
Misuzulu Zulu, 48, succeeded to the throne last year following the death of his father, Goodwill Zwelithini, during a protracted succession struggle.
The influential Zulu prime minister, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, claimed in a press release overnight on Saturday that the king had been hospitalized in Eswatini after falling ill.
After the untimely and unexpected death of one of his close advisers on Saturday, the monarch believes he was poisoned.
Buthelezi claimed that Xaba “passed away quite suddenly, and there are suspicions that he was poisoned.”
The royal spokesman on Sunday assured that the Zulu king, also known as Misuzulu kaZwelithini, was “in perfect health and is not currently admitted to any hospital”.
The spokesman criticised what he said was an “orchestrated agenda” to circulate “baseless claims of His Majesty’s ill health”.
Several Eswatini police sources confirmed to AFP that significant security was placed at a private hospital near the country’s royal residence.
Although the title of Zulu king does not confer governmental power, the kings exert immense moral influence over more than 11 million Zulus, who account for about a quarter of South Africa’s 60 million people.
After more than 50 years in power, King Zwelithini died, leaving six wives and at least 28 children.
Misuzulu is Zwelithini’s first son with his third wife, whom he named regent in his will.
The queen, on the other hand, died abruptly a month after Zwelithini, leaving a will that named Misuzulu as the next king, which did not sit well with other family members.
According to Buthelezi, the present monarch preferred treatment in Eswatini because “his parents both received treatment in South Africa and subsequently died.”
Another Zulu king’s counsellor was killed in unexplained circumstances on the sidelines of a ceremonial event last September.
