Traditional Leaders in a Democratic Society

In a democratic society, the observance of chieftaincy faces many problems in which one of the key issues relates to chieftaincy operating on principles that aren’t aligned to democratic ideas and values. A chief is not elected into office by popular vote, but through lineage, and is thus in office for life. The system is largely patriarchal and has most of the time excluded women from the office, and supports customary laws that are oppressive to women. In such a system there is a lack of representation and downward accountability. Now recently in South Africa there have been tensions between the government and Zulu King Zwelithini Zulu regarding the land debate. We further saw President Cyril Ramaphosa saying the government plans not to take land belonging to the zulu kingdom. So today we ask just how powerful kings and queens in a democracy like South Africa’s are.To help us answer those questions we are joined by:1. Adv Sabelo Sibanda Founder The School of African Awareness & Ama-Africa Aqotho2. Zolani Mkiva Secretary General CONTRALESA3. Prince Hlabezulu Khumalo