Mhlaba Memela

Mhlaba Memela

The coexistence between traditional leadership and democratically-elected structures will come under the spotlight at a historic international conference on traditional leadership.

The two-day Global Perspective on Traditional or Indigenous Leadership conference will take place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban from October 25 to 26 .

The conference is the first of its kind in the country.

The aim is to ensure the institution of traditional leadership, which suffered immense systematic attack under colonial rule, is recognised as a critical structure of governance.

The conference is expected to be opened by President Thabo Mbeki.

Mthatheni Mabaso, spokesman for the KwaZulu-Natal department of local government, housing and traditional affairs, said the conference would be attended by traditional leaders from across the globe.

He said hundreds of traditional leaders and monarchs will discuss ways of catapulting the institution of traditional leadership into the global arena and ensure it takes its rightful place in world's multilateral forums.

He said among the topics that will be discussed are international perspectives of traditional leadership in relation to democracy, governance, gender issues and pan-African institutions.