By Dylan Bettencourt
- King Misuzulu says he travelled to the United Arab Emirates without government support and went hungry while representing the Zulu nation.
- The KwaZulu-Natal premier’s office says the king never asked for financial help beyond visa assistance for the trip.
King Misuzulu has revealed that he and Queen Sihle Mdhluli went hungry during their recent trip to the United Arab Emirates because they had no money and no government support.
Speaking at eMashobeni royal palace in Pongola, the king said he decided to travel anyway to represent the Zulu nation and promote trade and diplomacy.
“Government just folded their hands and said they’ll see if the king and his people will travel,” he said, Daily Sun reported.
He said faith kept them going even when they could barely afford food. “I even told my wife that we’ll eat once a day. But in the future, God will multiply what we ate, because we are going for the nation,” he said.
King Misuzulu visited the UAE from 15 to 21 October, where he met global leaders and royal families. He said the trip was a success despite the hardships. “They saw us sitting with the kings they didn’t want us to see. That shows my ancestors are working in different ways,” he said.
The king said he now wants the royal house to be independent from government funding.
But KwaZulu-Natal Premier’s spokesperson Lindelani Mbatha told Daily Sun that the king never asked for financial support, only help with visas, which was provided.
“If the king had requested more support, the premier would’ve acted immediately,” Mbatha said.
Pictured above: King Misuzulu says he and Queen Sihle Mdhluli ate once a day while representing the Zulu nation abroad
Image source: King Misuzulu/X
