9 Africans Who Define Royalty, Wealth and Power

- By

King Goodwill Zwelethini

Unlike his neighbor King Mswati III, Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu is not about suppressing the press or harassing adversaries. kaBhekuzulu’s title is largely symbolic—he is the reigning king of the Zulu nation under the traditional leadership clause of South Africa’s republican constitution. But, he is still known to abuse his power. The government allots him a multi-million dollar budget for personal upkeep, but spend time perusing local papers and you’ll see that overspending on lavish palaces, vehicles, clothing and vacations taken as a birthright.  His appetite for much more than any man needs can also be measured in women—he has six wives. Zulu boys don’t get away unscathed either. In 2009, he reinstated circumcision, which, although associated with reduced HIV risk, is often carried out without proper sterilization, thereby creating its own health threats. What would happen if he had more power?  One could only imagine.

Comment Disclaimer: Comments that contain profane or derogatory language, video links or exceed 200 words will require approval by a moderator before appearing in the comment section. XOXO-MN