The Zulu king, South Africa’s most powerful traditional chief whose coronation last year sparked a clan war within the royal family, was hospitalized in nearby Eswatini and his palace ruled out possible poisoning, AFP reported.

King of Misuzulu ZuluPhoto: RAJESH JANTILAL/AFP/Profimedia

Misuzulu Zulu, 48, also known as Misuzulu kaZwelithini, “was hospitalized in Eswatini after falling ill earlier today,” the royal palace said in a statement released on Saturday evening.

Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the Zulu prime minister and an influential member of the royal family, said in a statement that he had been hospitalized following the sudden death of his senior aide, expressing “great concern”.

The king’s adviser “died suddenly and it is suspected that he was poisoned,” Buthelezi explained. “When His Majesty became ill, he suspected that he too had been poisoned,” he added.

The Zulu king was taken to Eswatini Hospital

The king preferred to be treated in Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, rather than in South Africa, where both his parents were “treated and died”.

“His Majesty appears to have received medical attention and is doing well,” his palace said, adding that it would allow authorities to investigate if necessary.

According to several sources in the Eswatini police, the sovereign is being treated at a private hospital in Ezulwin, a few kilometers from the royal residence in Ludzidzin. “Blockposts and armed police forces are deployed around the hospital,” one source told AFP.

In South Africa, sovereigns and traditional chiefs are recognized by the Constitution. Kings without executive power, they enjoy deep moral authority and are respected by their people.

The Missuzulu Zulu was crowned last year in KwaZulu-Natal province, in the country’s southeast, in a ceremony attended by the country’s 11 million Zulus, nearly one in five South Africans.

The son of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini and favorite for the ‘throne’, his coronation sparked a palace war led by, among others, the former king’s first wife, who had six wives and at least 28 children.

In September, a Misuzu Zulu councilor was mysteriously shot dead during a traditional ceremony.