The coronation of a new Zulu king has split the nation and seen a battle for the throne.
The Zulu royal household this week condemned an alleged planned entering of the cattle kraal (ukungena esibayeni) ceremony by Prince Simakade Zulu kaZwelithini set for this Saturday.
The ceremony is reportedly taking place just days before the same ceremony will be held for Prince Misuzulu kaZwelithini.
Simakade is the late King Goodwill Zwelithini's first son, born out of wedlock. He was allocated a home within Zwelithini's palaces.
However, Zulu prime minister Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi said the event is illegal and a “foolish provocation”.
“It is said that Prince Simakade intends entering the cattle kraal at Enyokeni Palace as though this would somehow negate his majesty the king’s traditional coronation which has already been announced.”
Buthelezi said there was “no space to contest his majesty’s authority nor to pretend to have any claim to the throne”.
“We trust that the law will be enforced and that such illegal activity will be prevented by the police. Should it proceed in any form, however, it will be meaningless, as it cannot change the fact of his majesty’s position. We therefore call for calm-headedness by his majesty’s people in the face of such foolish provocation.
“It is well-known that all of the royal palaces are under the authority of his majesty the king. Thus, if this false ceremony were to proceed at Enyokeni, those involved would be trespassing.”
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Image: Sandile Ndlovu
The coronation of a new Zulu king has split the nation and seen a battle for the throne.
The Zulu royal household this week condemned an alleged planned entering of the cattle kraal (ukungena esibayeni) ceremony by Prince Simakade Zulu kaZwelithini set for this Saturday.
The ceremony is reportedly taking place just days before the same ceremony will be held for Prince Misuzulu kaZwelithini.
Simakade is the late King Goodwill Zwelithini's first son, born out of wedlock. He was allocated a home within Zwelithini's palaces.
However, Zulu prime minister Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi said the event is illegal and a “foolish provocation”.
“It is said that Prince Simakade intends entering the cattle kraal at Enyokeni Palace as though this would somehow negate his majesty the king’s traditional coronation which has already been announced.”
Buthelezi said there was “no space to contest his majesty’s authority nor to pretend to have any claim to the throne”.
“We trust that the law will be enforced and that such illegal activity will be prevented by the police. Should it proceed in any form, however, it will be meaningless, as it cannot change the fact of his majesty’s position. We therefore call for calm-headedness by his majesty’s people in the face of such foolish provocation.
“It is well-known that all of the royal palaces are under the authority of his majesty the king. Thus, if this false ceremony were to proceed at Enyokeni, those involved would be trespassing.”
Misuzulu was formally recognised as the Zulu king by President Cyril Ramaphosa in March.
The brother of King Goodwill Zwelithini, Prince Mbonisi Zulu, lodged an urgent court application to stop Misuzulu's coronation, but this was struck off the roll last month.
Mbonisi claimed the process was “hijacked” by Buthelezi for his own political interest.
“Misuzulu has been misled by him into believing he is the king by birth and divine rights,” he added.
Prince Buzabazi, the son of the king’s second wife Queen Buhle KaMathe, was also seen by some as a candidate for the throne.
His supporters claim custom dictates that since the first queen’s only son (Prince Lethukuthula KaZwelithini) died, the heir should be a son of his second wife.
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