The Zulu king is treated in a hospital for a suspected poisoning

July 2 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The Zulu king, Misuzulu kaZwelithini, has been hospitalized and is being treated for possible poisoning, his prime minister, Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi, has said.

The monarch traveled to a hospital in the country of Eswatini to avoid being treated in South Africa for feeling uncomfortable, Buthelezi pointed out, according to the BBC.

This incident occurs after the sudden death of one of his closest collaborators, apparently also poisoned, Buthelezi has revealed. “When his majesty began to feel bad, we suspected that he could have been poisoned as well,” he explained.

“He was immediately transferred to receive treatment in Eswatini. I have been informed that His Majesty was not comfortable with receiving treatment in South Africa because both his parents were treated in South Africa and died,” he reported.

King Misuzulu was crowned before thousands of Zulus last October after prevailing in the contentious succession, still disputed by his rivals in the courts who defend Prince Simakade, another son of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini, as heir.

King Zwelithini had six wives and at least 26 children. He died in March 2021, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, due to complications from the diabetes that he suffered after more than half a century of reign. His wife, Queen Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu, became regent, but she died a month later.

The Zulu king does not exercise real political power and is limited to the ceremonial character. He does control an important budget of several million euros provided by the South African authorities.