By Celani Sikhakhane
- King Misuzulu becomes the third Zulu monarch to face divorce, following in the footsteps of his ancestors King Dinuzulu and King Bhekuzulu.
- The Zulu royal family is revisiting history as King Misuzulu prepares for a new marriage amidst divorce rumours.
King Misuzulu kaZwelithini is on track to become the third Zulu king to go through a divorce, following the examples of King Dinuzulu kaCetshwayo and King Bhekuzulu kaDinuzulu.
Royal insiders confirmed that King Dinuzulu divorced Queen Silomo kaNtuzwa Mdlalose, the mother of King Phumzuzulu after they returned from exile on St Helena.
“Queen Silomo left the kwaDlamahlahla Royal Palace after their acrimonious breakup. She returned to her family and was buried at the Mdlalose home,” a royal source explained.
Similarly, King Bhekuzulu divorced Queen Jezangani kaThayiza Ndwandwe, the mother of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini.
“After their split, Queen Jezangani moved to Durban and joined the anti-apartheid struggle in Chesterville with the ANC Women’s League. For years, no one knew where she was buried until King Zwelithini, with former eThekwini Municipality Mayor Obed Mlaba’s help, found her grave and confirmed her remains through DNA testing in America,” the source added.
Divorce in the royal family has not been without drama. Queen Sibongile MaDlamini of Khethomthandayo Palace once attempted to divorce King Zwelithini, but former President Nelson Mandela intervened to stop it.
According to cultural expert Dr Gugu Mazibuko, divorces are rare in Zulu culture.
She explained: “If a wife misbehaves, families are brought in to resolve the issues. Even if not resolved, the wife stays in the homestead to raise the children.”
Queen Nozizwe Mulela Makhubu, the second wife of King Misuzulu, denied being the one divorcing the king.
“She has not filed or received any divorce papers,” said her spokesperson Bheki Makhubu.
Meanwhile, King Misuzulu is preparing to marry Queen Nomzamo kaMyeni on 26 January in a Shembe Nazareth Baptist Church ceremony. On 24 January, the two families will exchange gifts in Ngwavuma.
Pictured above: Queen Nozizwe Makhubu and King Misuzulu who are said to be going through a divorce.
Source: X
