Ndaba Mtirara

Ndaba Zwelodumo Mtirara is a Xhosa traditional leader and former politician. He is a member of the Thembu royal family and represented the United Democratic Movement in the National Assembly from 1999 until 2001, when he resigned. He subsequently joined the African National Congress.

Legislative career

Mtirara was born on 30 September 1957. He gained election to the National Assembly in the 1999 general election, ranked second on the UDM's party list for the Eastern Cape. He resigned from his seat on 12 March 2001, apparently with the UDM's blessing: UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said that Mtirara had asked to leave his position in order to serve as acting King of the abaThembu in the absence of King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo. However, shortly afterwards, Mtirara joined the rival ANC, which he went on to serve in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature.