By Celani Sikhakhane
Church leaders in KwaZulu-Natal have intervened in the fight between King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, his traditional prime minister, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, and the ANC’s provincial leadership.
The church leaders’ intervention was disclosed on Thursday at a meeting in Durban to pray for peaceful elections on 29 May.
Bishop Nkosinathi Myaka, the executive chairperson of the KwaZulu-Natal Council of Churches, told journalists that their intervention has been welcomed by the ANC leadership and Buthelezi.
“We have met with both sides but it is a matter that we treat very privately. We can only confirm that we had a meeting and both stakeholders are cooperating very well,” Myaka said.
He said that the church leaders wanted to make sure that there was political tolerance in KwaZulu-Natal.
The ANC has previously made it clear that they don’t recognise King Misuzulu’s appointment of Buthelezi as his prime minister.
Earlier this year, ANC provincial chairperson Siboniso Duma caused an uproar when he grabbed the microphone from Buthelezi as he was speaking at an event to commemorate the Battle of Isandlwana.
More recently, Water and Sanitation Minister Senzo Mchunu announced his ministry was stripping Buthelezi’s powers as Zululand district mayor on local water projects.
Catholic Cardinal Wilfred Napier said the engagement with political leaders is to make sure that the province doesn’t return to the era of political violence that left many people dead.
The church leaders also asked Buthelezi to arrange a meeting for them with King Misuzulu.
They want to discuss many important provincial issues, including avoiding political conflict as the country goes to the elections.
“We have seen some political parties giving extremely violent speeches using character assassination,” said Napier. “We call on our leaders to desist from those speeches because they can cause serious harm to human beings
The church leaders are taking part in the Independent Electoral Commission’s programmes to get political parties to sign peace pledges ahead of the elections.
Pictured above: Church leaders have intervened in the fight between King Misuzulu KaZwelithini, his prime minister and the ANC.
Image source: Celani Sikhakhane
