Your article on the Zulu traditional leadership’s threat to secede refers (Zulu warriors to hear king’s response about land held by the Ingonyama Trust, July 4). I will probably make myself unpopular by suggesting there is merit to their wishes, but please humour me. Zululand’s incorporation into what is now SA was a result of British imperialism, which waged a relentless war of subjugation against that nation. Before being conquered by the British, the Zulus had their own monarchy, territory, army, customs and courts of law. In most people’s books — and certainly under international law — that would make them a nation-state. This nation-state ceased to exist not because its people wished to dissolve it, but because it was vanquished in a series of wars and its lands were divided among chiefs appointed by colonial authorities. This same international law — SA is a signatory to a number of such instruments — recognises and respects the right to self-determination. It protects the rig...
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