By Sihle Mavuso
Two key leaders in the Zulu kingdom, His Holiness Unyazi LweZulu of the Shembe church, and King Misuzulu have concluded a two-week visit to the Kingdom of Eswatini.
His Holiness was in Eswatini as part of his annual religious pilgrimage to the country where his church, which is rooted in traditional values, has a significant presence.
During his pilgrimage, he visited several areas and prayed for the sick and spiritually troubled. He also used the opportunity to preside over a mass prayer service in the royal palace of Eludzidzini with King Mswati III and the Queen Mother Ntfombi Thwala.
The church service was also attended by King Misuzulu. His Holiness will conclude his trip on Sunday.
At the same time, King Misuzulu was also in the kingdom on two missions. He was there to lobby King Mswati III, his uncle, to help him stop the government’s attempt to snatch the Ingonyama Trust and all the tribal land under it.
That was after the former minister of agriculture, land reforms and rural development Thoko Didiza indicated that she was going to take away the powers of traditional leaders to sign permission to occupy for people living on the land.
King Misuzulu also had time to be part of the dispersing of Swati regiments – an important ceremony to mark the end of a royal assignment – by King Mswati.
Privately, King Misuzulu then got to introduce his new wife to his uncle, Undlunkulu Nomzamo Myeni who will now occupy the palace of Machobeni in Ingwavuma, in the north of the province. The palace was the second home of the late mother of King Misuzulu, Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, who hailed from Eswatini.
The Zulu King and his new wife also got an opportunity to visit the palace of Lugongolweni in the central region of Manzini to perform some private rituals.
The palace is the birthplace of his mother, thus being a significant spiritual place for him.
Pictured above:Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi kneeling before His Holiness Unyazi LweZulu at Ludzidzini palace yesterday.
Image source: Supplied
