King Misuzulu KaZwelithini has re-appointed Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi as the traditional prime minister of the Zulu nation, a year after he relieved him of his duties and left the position vacant.

Buthelezi was re-appointed today, around 8 pm at eMashobeni royal palace in Pongola, ahead of the annual Umkhosi Woselwa (the ceremony of the first fruit).

The Zulu King made the announcement in the presence of senior members of the royal family, and an oath was administered by Canon Hamilton Mbatha, the royal chaplain.

Buthelezi is also serving as the MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in the KwaZulu-Natal government of provincial unity, which is made up of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), ANC, DA, and the National Freedom Party (NFP).

He is also a senior leader of the IFP and a former mayor of the Zululand district municipality.

The deputy Zulu traditional prime minister is Inkosi Phathisizwe Chiliza, who is the leader of the MK Party in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature in Pietermaritzburg.