By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
AmaZulu King MisuZulu KaZwelithini has called for peace and tolerance amongst political parties as campaigning heats up for this year’s general elections.
The national and provincial elections will take place on 29 May.
The Zulu monarch made the appeal during an address at the Oval Cricket Stadium in Pietermaritzburg where he officially opened the KZN legislature on Tuesday.
The opening of the provincial legislature event, which previously took place at the legislature building in Chief Albert Luthuli Street, was moved to the Oval Cricket Stadium as the legislature building was not big enough to accommodate all the guests.
The king, who was joined by KZN Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, addressed some 2000 dignitaries inside the chambers.
This was King Misuzulu’s second address, to mark the opening of the legislature since he became monarch.
Dube-Ncube, will, after the King’s opening address, deliver her State of the Province Address (Sopa) on Wednesday.
She will outline the provincial government’s key priorities while giving an account of the KZN government’s performance.
The King’s 15-minute address was described by many as short, sweet and straight to the point.
He focused on three main issues, peace in the run-up to the elections, the killing of amakhosi and councillors and the protection of land governed by the Ingonyama Trust. His main message was one of peace as he urged all political parties to show tolerance and called for violence-free campaigning.
“It is important that our democracy grows from strength to strength. We should also preserve our heritage. I appeal for peace and tolerance between all political parties that will be campaigning (in) this year’s elections. I wish you all the best of luck.”
Recently, Police Minister Bheki Cele revealed that at least 52 councillors have been killed in KwaZulu-Natal since 2011.
King MisuZulu also issued a royal decree against the ongoing killing of traditional leaders and councillors in the province.
“The killing of Amakhosi needs to come to a stop immediately,” the King said.
“We are a province of peace and understanding. I call upon all the law enforcement agencies to arrest and prosecute criminals who are giving our beautiful province a bad name.
“I have declared the year 2024 to be the year of peace, unity, revival, pride and dignity amongst the Zulus and the province of KwaZulu-Natal.”
In their reaction to the king’s speech the province’s main political parties, the African National Congress, the Inkatha Freedom Party and the Democratic Alliance applauded the monarch for calling for peace in the country.