Political Organisation of the Zulu State

King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu. Image credit ibtimes.co.uk

• The smallest political unit was the kraal or village and it was under the rule of a kraal head or umnumzane.
• The kraal head dealt with disputes and quarrels
• The kraal head was under the district head isiGodi
• The isiGodi was in charge of a large area called isiFunda and one induna
• Shaka was the image of the law
• The king represented the tribal ancestors and therefore officiated at all ceremonies in the land
• The king represented the kingdom
• Shaka had all the legislative, judicial and political powers
• The king was responsible for land distribution
• Shaka appointed his female relative to administer female regiments
• Shaka appointed his relatives in all the important positions
• Shaka ‘s rule was by custom with little opportunity for legislation
• After the inxwala ceremony, the laws were announced publicly especially those to do with marriage and campaigns that the king had decided upon
• The king could not order the killing of a subject unless they were found guilty of an offense and this limited the powers of the king
• The king ruled with councilors who were heads of families of influence called indunas
• The indunas were divided into two groups, one dealing with the military whilst the other in administration issues
• The councilors had to reside at the royal court for a certain period and offer their services to the king
• This helped the king in state surveillance and also so that he knew what was happening even in the most remote areas of the kingdom
• The king employed royal spies who were stationed everywhere in the state
• Besides the indunas ther were also other important men who were favourites at the royal kraal even but did not hold official positions known as isiLomo and umSengi
• The Zulu subjects paid tribute to their king in terms of livestock, iron tools, grains, minerals among others
  Shaka also received tribute from vassal chiefs
• The king could collect cattle from his subjects at any time to feed his council and army
• The king could also collect tax from subjects irregularly in the form of mats, labour and thatching grass

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