His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini of AmaZulu, accompanied by his royal delegation and traditional leaders from South Africa, paid a courtesy call on President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House in Harare on Tuesday, 14 July.
The high-level visit came against the backdrop of ongoing anti-migrant protests in South Africa and a large-scale repatriation of Zimbabwean nationals.
Since late May, South Africa has seen a wave of demonstrations in several provinces targeting undocumented migrants, with protest groups calling for stricter enforcement of immigration laws and priority hiring for locals.
The unrest prompted authorities to step up deportations and voluntary returns.
In response, the Zimbabwean government launched an assisted repatriation programme on 28 May 2026.
State media reported that more than 21,000 citizens have since been helped to return home, while an estimated 56,832 others have made their own way back across the border.
In a post on social media following Tuesday’s meeting, President Mnangagwa said the engagement with King Misuzulu reinforced the historical and cultural bonds that unite South Africans and Zimbabweans.
“Our meeting reinforces the deep, historical, and unbreakable cultural bonds that unite the people of Zimbabwe and South Africa,” wrote Mnangagwa.
“Traditional leadership remains a cornerstone of our African identity, preserving our rich heritage and guiding our communities toward peace and unity.
“Zimbabwe continues to open its doors to our regional brothers and sisters as we strengthen these foundational ties.
“We look forward to continued collaboration, mutual respect, and shared prosperity between our nations.”
Speaking to reporters at the State House, ZANU-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa said the meetings between President Mnangagwa and the two South African traditional leaders were successful.
“His Royal Highness, he is the King of the Kingdom of the Zulus. He has come here, he came here with a very powerful delegation, which also included King Ndamase of the AmaMpondo Kingdom in South Africa,” said Mutsvangwa.
“They are all from the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal. This is the area where there has been some tension, some upheaval of activity, as weaponised poverty makes the Africans fight against each other.
“And they felt that as Kings, they have a role to play, and they respect President Mnangagwa as a regional leader, as a liberation fighter of standing.
“And they did not want their message to be filtered through third parties; they requested a personal audience with the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
“And they had a very, very successful meeting with the President. It’s their second meeting in as many days.
“Yesterday’s was private, this morning it was official. The President called in his ministers and his court to come and listen to the King.”
The two traditional leaders, King Misuzulu and King Ndamase, were set to have lunch with ZANU PF officials before flying back to South Africa.
“This afternoon we are going to host them to lunch, before they go back to South Africa,” said Mutsvangwa.
“All in all, a very cordial meeting, mapping the future of the two countries together, and also to see how historical and traditional status can come to play as we grapple with post-colonial challenges which come from our apartheid and racist past.
“We see it as a challenge of development, and they also delved into how the two countries, and the Kingdom, can cooperate with Zimbabwe, so that we can have a more organised labour movement, more job opportunities, so people can stay where they should be, and then labour can move without the challenges of competing for scarce employment opportunities.”
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