- The King welcomed Prince Mazwi Zulu and other relatives who apologised after supporting his throne challenger, Prince Simakade.
- He gave Prince Mazwi a cow as a sign of forgiveness during a gathering at kwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace.
King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has warned that divisions within the royal family could leave the Zulu nation vulnerable to losing its land.
The King spoke during a gathering at kwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace in Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal, over the weekend.
He was welcoming relatives who had apologised after supporting his half-brother, Prince Simakade kaZwelithini, in the battle for the throne.
The King said royal infighting weakened traditional leaders and their ability to protect land held under the Ingonyama Trust.
“Being divided as royals, it weakens even our traditional leaders in their fight to protect the land of our nation,” he said.
He said he felt alone in the fight over the Trust and warned that those seeking to take the land could exploit divisions within the family.
The King also reflected on the succession dispute, telling relatives that he had turned to his mother’s family for support when the challenge began.
He recalled discussing the dispute with his uncle, Eswatini’s King Mswati III.
According to Misuzulu, Mswati asked who was challenging him. When he named Prince Simakade, his uncle told him that a challenge from his brother was to be expected.
Misuzulu said Mswati even joked that, had Simakade remained quiet, he should have given him money to mount a challenge.
The King said he believed the battle had ultimately strengthened his reign and helped bring him peace.
Among those welcomed back was senior royal Prince Mazwi Zulu of the kwaMinyamanzi Royal House.
Prince Mazwi led relatives who had supported Simakade in seeking forgiveness from the King.
Misuzulu welcomed him and presented him with a cow as a sign of forgiveness.
