Getting old is for both the king and commoner

THE King and I.

Older readers will remember the title of the award-winning Rodgers and Hammerstein musical.

However, that’s not what’s on my mind.

His Royal Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini recently turned 70, the proverbial Biblical ‘threescore years and ten’.

Being of the same vintage (1948 was an excellent year), I trust it is not presumptuous of me to speak of Isilo and myself in the same breath, but I do so with great respect.

The first point I wish to make is that the aging process does not discriminate.

Whether king or commoner, it’s either going to wear out, spread out or fall out.

The toils of life will take their toll. And so we wish our king good health and strength; old age is not for sissies.

His Majesty appears to be in excellent shape and his mind is certainly as astute and perceptive as ever.

Though the cynics of life might say good health is simply the slowest possible rate at which one can die, we pray his good health may long continue.

Of course, and rightly so, his position spares him the indignity of having to queue in a crowded post office with other senior citizens for his SASSA grant.

Which brings me to the point of this article: a complaint against the many critics of the royal household, who simply see it as a drain on the province’s financial resources, and who are unaware of the great good the king does.

We at the ZO are in the fortunate position of attending many functions at which King Goodwill articulates his views on a number of issues.

He specifically addresses the youth of the nation, warning them against everything from sugar daddies to violent protests.

He repeatedly warns against the wanton destruction of property, urging dialogue as the only sensible way to resolve issues.

He cautions in the strongest terms that such actions will deter foreign investment, which ultimately leads to loss of jobs.

Ironically, unemployment is one of the main reasons for protest actions.

His Majesty has been, and still is, at the forefront of the fight against HIV/Aids and has called loudly for better anti-crime measures to protect the young and vulnerable.

Of late he has been outspoken over the land restoration issue, not merely in defending the trust land that falls under his jurisdiction, but in warning that a lot more thought must be given to the process.

He believes by working together, with the land in the right people’s hands, we can feed the nation from the abundance of land that is available.

With dignity, and outspoken as he is, Isilo has managed to stay above political, religious and racial divides to earn respect from all quarters.

I am not a Zulu, but I am a Zululander, and I for one am proud to call him my king.

Long may he reign and prosper in good health!