By Kameel Premhid
This article is in response to remarks made by Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini as reported by TimesLive.
For a rabid libertarian like me, one that is sceptical of the state and state institutions in many instances, I rather like the monarchy. And no, not the British one (don’t get me wrong, I love them, being an anglophile) but I do, in principle, support the maintenance of traditional African monarchies. Yes they’re not perfect and by many Western standards they may not measure up (being polygamous, patriarchal and so on), but they are somewhat useful. (By the way, where they don’t measure up, as is evidenced by the article mentioned above, I think they should do so. Nor do I believe that the argument that “Western” standards are incompatible with traditional society)
Why? Well here’s a rapid fire (and woefully under-developed and response:
1) They usually act as a repository of culture, language and tradition. (Yes, some of them are questionable, but on the whole they actively militate against loss of indigenous culture and language as has been experienced elsewhere. Holding onto that history is pretty important)
2) They often provide access to communities that are too parochial and where the government has no presence at all. This access is a two-way street: people who are sceptical of government are more likely to buy-in to the AIDS messages that the amakhosi support (mostly) and conversely, the people who live in these vulnerable areas and have no access to government services are able to access them through traditional societal structures.
These positive outcomes make them worthy of some funding. Again though, I don’t think this means exorbitant, excessive nor profligate expenditure. Nor do I think it means monarchies can spend on activities/things which actively undermine the state’s attempts at non-discrimination and tolerance. Especially considering how influential they are in communities which are themselves rather opposed to homosexuality as it is. No government department or Minister for example would (or should) be able to enjoy taxpayers’ money having said something like this.
Zwelithini should lose every cent he is given for perpetuating such hate undermining the struggle for true equality for all people.
