Poisoning claims cast pall over Queen’s death
TENSIONS in the Zulu royal family deepened yesterday when a group of royals led by Prince Mbonisi Zulu and Princess Thembi Ndlovu (née Zulu) lashed out at how the royal succession plan has been handled after the death and alleged poisoning of Queen Regent Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu.
In an impromptu press conference held outside the main palace of Khangela in Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal, the royals denied they were behind the alleged poisoning of the regent.
Princess Thembi said the debacle was painting them as “witches and anarchists” in the eyes of the public.
“People think we are murderers since the queen (Dlamini-Zulu) is said to be poisoned. People who are said to be behind this (are) me and this brother of mine (Prince Mbonisi) because we had a meeting that started at KwaKhethomthandayo (palace),” she said.
A livid Ndlovu said the reason she and her sibling met without Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the Zulu nation’s traditional prime minister, was that he does not take kindly to those with dissenting views during royal meetings.
“The reason we decided not to invite the Prince (Buthelezi) to the meeting is that he doesn’t give us space to freely discuss matters. He would belittle you, make you feel like a toddler in front of people and shoot you down if you have a view he does not like. So we decided to meet on our own.”
Backing the princess, Prince Mbonisi Zulu said the allegations of poisoning were hurtful and in the eyes of the public they were killers. He also said they respected the throne and they would back whoever took over.
The tensions come as the first wife of King Goodwill Zwelithini, Queen Sibongile Dlamini and her two daughters, Princess Ntandoyenkosi and Princess Ntombizosuthu, are preparing court challenges to firstly interdict the process of appointing a regent and a successor be stopped until the issue of the king’s estate is resolved.
Prince Thokozani said they were aware of the court case but refused to say whether they supported the action or not.
However, he said the whole royal house was aware of the court case.