Royal family still fighting over the crown
AmaZulu Traditional Minister Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi has insisted the new king of the Zulu nation has already been named, amid divisions within the royal family over how the succession battle should be handled.
Buthelezi was addressing the media on Saturday after thenprince Misuzulu Zwelithini was named king the day before.
“As far as the family and the Zulu nation is concerned, the king is already on the throne, but there are formalities that should be followed from the side of the government,” Buthelezi told eNCA.
In a reading of the late regent Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu’s will by royal house lawyer advocate Griffiths Madonsela, Prince Misuzulu was named as his late mother’s preferred candidate to ascend to the throne.
Mantfombi died last week at the age of 65.
She was laid to rest at a private burial last Thursday, while the will reading took place at KwaKhangelamankengane Palace in Nongoma on Friday. The occasion turned chaotic, with heckling between Buthelezi and Prince Thokozani Zulu.
Prince Thokozani, the late King Goodwill Zwelithini’s son with another queen, was trying to address the gathering. Gunshots were heard amid the commotion and King MisuZulu and his siblings were whisked away to safety.
While it was revealed that Princess Thembi and Prince Mbonisi had pledged their loyalty and support for King MisuZulu to lead the Zulu nation following the royal family meeting, tensions are brewing.
The late King Zwelithini’s first wife will head to court to interdict the coronation of a new ruler.
Queen Sibongile Dlamini is challenging the king’s will in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg on the basis that they were married under civil law, which prohibits polygamous marriages.
Queen Mantfombi was appointed regent in March.
She was tsked with appointing a new ruler after the death of King Goodwill Zwelithini.