By Mabutho Sithole and Sapa
Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini on Saturday urged a gathering of world traditional leaders to ensure that the institutions of traditional government were not overwhelmed by Western-style democracy.
It is the first time that the African National Congress-leaning monarch has sided publicly with Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi on efforts by traditional leaders to prevent the government from reducing their powers and functions in terms of a new local government set-up after December 5 when the elections are held.
Zwelithini made the appeal on Saturday during the inaugural conference of the World Federation of Traditional Leaders at the Maharishi University of Management in Vlodrop, the Netherlands.
"In my own region, my forebears fought wars and battles against colonial and, later, apartheid regimes in order to maintain our traditional democracy.
"We cannot afford to dispose of our traditional government institutions in favour of the Western kind of democracy.
"That would mean we fought in vain against domination by foreign powers. Let us merge the two types of democracy for the general good of the people," he said.
In his first major public stand on the sensitive issue, which delayed the announcement of local government elections, Zwelithini urged the government to compromise rather than marginalise traditional institutions.
Zwelithini's appeal will add weight to the ultimatum presented to President Thabo Mbeki on October 10 by traditional leaders and with Buthelezi's blessing.
In accepting the announcement of the date for local government elections, Chief Mpiyezintombi Mzimela, the chair of the house of traditional leaders, said that traditional leaders had agreed to the date.
But it was only on the understanding that the "necessary legislative steps" would be taken before the elections so that the powers of traditional leaders were restored and not eroded.
Buthelezi said this week he was sure Mbeki would stand by a commitment he made in a speech to the national council of provinces on October 12 to "take all necessary steps" to ensure that traditional leaders' concerns were addressed.
"I do respect President Mbeki as a man of honour who is not likely to break the promise of correcting that which is wrong," Buthelezi said.
"These are the words of the head of state and head of government and I have no reason not to believe that President Mbeki means what he is saying here.
"This is notwithstanding the fact that President Mandela signed an agreement with me and the then-president FW de Klerk that was similar to this one on April 19 1994 concerning international mediation on these very issues, which he dishonoured.
"I have no reason to doubt that president will carry out his undertaking to all of us," Buthelezi said.
Zwelithini on Saturday appealed to traditional leaders to give special attention to helping KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Northern Province, which were very poor.
One of the needs was for agricultural equipment like tractors that could be used by members of the community on a loan basis.
The king said governments and businessmen should join forces with traditional leaders in making vacant land available to the poor for farming.
Zwelithini told the leaders that traditional events should be reinstated as they afforded elders the opportunity to address people - especially the youth - on many social issues, like HIV and Aids.
"For example, since 1984 I have revived the reed dance, where young girls descend on one of my royal residences for a ritual of bringing reeds to the residence.
"This provides a forum for me to address these maidens on matters of acceptable sexual behaviour, with an emphasis on the prevention of the scourge of HIV and Aids."