Celani Sikhakhane & Linda Ximba
The Zulu Royal family has invited King of eSwatini, Makhosetive Mswati III, to help resolve the current battle for succession in the family.
King Mswati III is the brother of the late Regent Queen Mantfombi Dlamini and the uncle to Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.
The invitation was revealed by Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi at a Gala Dinner which was held in his honour on Saturday in Dundee, North of KwaZulu-Natal.
He remarked that the situation is serious and that the family hopes to resolve it as soon as possible.
“King Mswati has been brought in in order to find a formidable solution. We hope that his involvement will bring stability and peace in the Royal court,” Buthelezi said.
The prince was also keen to put to bed any confusion over the current leader of the Zulu Nation.
“Another thing people should not be confused about is who the king is. We all know that King Misuzulu kaZwelithini is the reigning king of the Zulu Nation,” he said.
Buthelezi said King Mswati will bring together the likes of former KZN premier Willies Mchunu, President Cyril Ramaphosa and leaders of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to finally resolve the dispute.
Last month, Buthelezi took King Misuzulu to eSwatini to officially introduce him to his uncle, King Mswati.
On the other hand, the faction of the Royal Family which is known as Royal rebels met in Nongoma to officially announce Prince Simakade as the ascending king of the Zulu Nation.
The meeting was attended by all five wives of King Zwelithini, as well as Prince Mbonisi Zulu of eKhwezi, other children of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini and other members of the family from Prince Simakade’s faction.
In the meeting, the name of the new contender to the throne was revealed to be Prince Buzabazi, but he was quickly rejected after others complained that this would cause confusion. Therefore, Prince Simakade kaZwelithini was retained as the contender to rival King Misuzulu.
However, Buthelezi said the issue of Prince Simakade was senseless since his mother was only a girlfriend to the late King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu.
“Simakade cannot be a King,” said Buthelezi.
