Arnold Nododile (picture next to King Misuzulu kaZwelithini) led the salute to the king after a meeting with stakeholders on Tuesday.
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Contrary to the weekend announcement that King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has fired his Private Secretary Arnold Nododile and the Royal Chancellor inkosi Malusi Zondi, the king has retained the pair and appointed them to new roles.
Although no official announcement has been made on what these new positions will entail, the king, through his spokesperson Prince Thulani Zulu announced on Tuesday that Zondi has been promoted to a new role. In the announcement, Prince Zulu said a new delegation of princes would be led by Prince Africa of Onkweni palace to inform Zondi of his new role.
One of the princes who attended Tuesday's meeting with the king, to discuss the matter, said the king also flatly refused to bow to the pressure from the princes to remove Nododile from the kraal. The prince said that the king announced that while Nododile would no longer head his Private Office, he would remain close to him, while the king looks for another role for Nododile.
Nododile confirmed that although he will no longer serve as the king’s Private Secretary, he will assume new responsibilities, which the king will soon announce.
His Royal Highness Prince Africa of Onkweni palace and inkosi Malusi Zondi during the recent official opening of the Provincial House of Traditional Leaders at the Ulundi legislature.
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Despite the announcement of his removal over the weekend, Nododile was continuing his work at his office at Mashobeni palace and held meetings with the king on Monday and Tuesday.
“I am not fired and instead I am promoted to a new position. The king will announce that soon,” said Nododile.
Royal insiders said Zondi and Prince Africa, would continue with their roles but not under the titles of Royal Chancellor and Vice Chancellor respectively. The sources said that they would be known as Iso leSilo (king’s representatives) in urban areas of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, working hand in hand with hostel headmen and various government entities such as municipalities where Zulus reside.
The pair would also, on behalf of the king, meet with private businesses to negotiate for better working conditions of Zulu employees and they will use the Embelebeni royal palace in KwaMashu as their operational centre.
The new announcement has ended the confusion that started at the weekend when the king’s Traditional Prime Minister Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi announced the removal of the two officials.
They then issued their own statement denying that they had been dismissed, instead saying that both Buthelezi and the king had distanced themselves from the statement.
There was speculation that the removal of the two senior officials, who formed part of the decision-making structure in the royal family known as the Prime Minister Executive Council, was a result of the intense power struggle between council members over proximity to the king and access to the king’s diary, which was controlled by Nododile.