Times Of Swaziland: KING MISUZULU ON THE THRONE, READY TO LEAD

KING MISUZULU ON THE THRONE, READY TO LEAD
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Mfanukhona Nkambule on 21/08/2022 14:42:00


MBABANE – His Majesty King Misuzulu yesterday pronounced his readiness to lead
the Zulu nation with integrity and honesty, denouncing those who oppose his
Throne.
In a televised address yesterday, King Misuzulu urged his people to prioritise
prayer and the application of the Bible to ensure protection of his Throne and
the Zulu (amaZulu) nation at large. He called for reconciliation and unity among
the amaZulu. The King said they should listen to those who were rebelling
against his Throne, but should not do as they have been saying because they were
actually misleading them. Speaking during the traditional coronation which
preceded the kraal-entering ceremony in which he (the king) was introduced to
his ancestors as the King of the amaZulu, he thanked South Africa’s President
Cyril Ramaphosa for issuing a certificate that legitimised his enthronement.
He also thanked Umdlunkulu Zola Mafu, who is a liSwati, for being the only one
among his father King Goodwill Zwelithini’s surviving wives to be present at
yesterday’s historic event.
Mafu was known to enjoy a very closer relationship with Misuzulu’s mother.
King Misuzulu’s wives, Queen Ntokozo Mayisela of Newcastle in KwaZulu-Natal
and Queen Nozizwe Mulela were also present alongside representatives of the
Eswatini royal household, tribal Kings from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Zambia,
among others.
temptations
His Majesty King Misuzulu is the nephew of His Majesty King Mswati III, as his
mother; the late Princess Mantfombi, is the daughter of King Sobhuza II. The
King of the Zulus paid tribute to Prince Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi, the Zulu
Tribal Prime Minister, for standing firm on the truth despite emerging
temptations to compromise it. He said he asked Buthelezi if it was possible for
the president of South Africa to revoke the certificate and the response he got
from the prince was that such would never happen. His Majesty went on to tell
his people that Buthelezi assured him that it was impossible to have more than
one certificate issued to people who claimed to be the Kings of the Zulu nation.
He said it was possible that foreign elements assigned the rebels to sow the
seeds of discord within the Zulu royal household. He said yesterday’s
ceremony, as graced by other tribal Kings from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Nigeria
and representative of His Majesty King Mswati III, was a testament to the
legitimacy of his Throne.
ceremonies
He announced that a second part of the ceremonies would be held in due course
wherein the President of the Republic of South Africa and other leaders would
attend. He said this ceremony would be held at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
King Misuzulu said he was blessed to have elders who knew the history of the
amaZulu behind him. “Those you normally see on TV denouncing this Throne, give
them an ear as we have to listen to what they say, but don’t accept what they
say,” he said to a round of applause. In another development, the Eye Witness
reported that thousands descended in Nongoma - northern KwaZulu-Natal for the
traditional coronation of King Misuzulu kaZwelithini. Earlier yesterday,
Misuzulu was officially introduced to his ancestors as King of the Zulu nation -
through the kraal-entering ceremony. The King’s wives and siblings - the
princes and princesses of the royal family were also part of the joyous
celebrations taking place at KwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace.
kraal-entering
The AmaZulu royal family described the kraal-entering ceremony performed by
AmaZulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini - known as ukungena esibayeni - as a prayer
to introduce him to his ancestors and to his people. The AmaZulu traditional
Prime Minister, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, said the King was already on the
Throne and that the event was a formality.
It has been more than a year since King Misuzulu assumed and took up the role of
leader of the Zulu people - following the loss of his father King Goodwill
Zwelithini and his mother Queen Mantfombi - who was regent after her husband
passed. Since then, there have been disputes around the legitimacy of King
Zwelithini’s will and two other sons have been touted as his rightful heirs to
the throne. One of the late King Zwelithini’s sons, who has been vigorously
contesting the throne, is Prince Simakade. “It’s a sort of a ritual and a
prayer where we formally inform the living and the dead that after the passing
away of our previous King (King Zwelithini Ka Bhekuzulu) that now everyone, the
living and the dead must understand that someone is taking over now,” said
Buthelezi. The King was officially introduced to his subjects as their leader
yesterday.