South African traditional leaders, AmaZulu King Misuzulu ka Zwelithini and King Ndamase Ndamase of Western Pondoland, are set to visit Zimbabwe to meet President Emmerson Mnangagwa amid rising anti-immigrant tensions in South Africa.
Ndamase, who leads the AmaMpondo aseNyandeni in the Eastern Cape, wrote to South Africa’s International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola on 3 July about the planned trip.
Lamola’s spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, told News24 the department had received the letter and would engage the traditional leaders on their proposal.
Ndamase said the visit followed a 27 June meeting where President Cyril Ramaphosa discussed anti-immigrant sentiment with traditional leaders. That came three days before nationwide protests on 30 June, when anti-immigration groups told undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.
He said he and Misuzulu also met Ramaphosa separately on 28 June and agreed on the need to speak to regional leaders.
The kings want to discuss southern African xenophobia, migration, and minorities under the African Continental Free Trade Area. They have proposed a SADC regional minority summit in Victoria Falls to turn migration into a “strategic asset for regional investment”.
In a separate letter to Mnangagwa, also dated 3 July, Ndamase requested a meeting, citing the Zimbabwean president’s “Pan-Africanist credentials” to help guide talks on migration tensions.
ZANU PF spokesperson Chris Mutsvangwa said Mnangagwa had been in contact with an intermediary linked to traditional rulers in KwaZulu-Natal and among the amaXhosa and amaMpondo.
He said letters had been received from the Kingdom of Zululand, the king of amaMpondo and the Xhosa paramount king. Talks would focus on sub-regional solutions.
Misuzulu reportedly helped calm tensions in KwaZulu-Natal before the 30 June protests. He urged his subjects not to destroy property and told royal regiments to protect foreign nationals during the demonstrations.
More: ZimLive
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