AmaZulu King Misuzulu faces push-back as he awaits coronation
Traditional Prime Minister to the AmaZulu nation Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi says the royal family remains divided about the new king’s reign.
King Misuzulu kaZwelithini was nominated as the preferred successor of the monarch by his late mother, Queen Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu last month.
Dramatic scenes played out at the public reading of the late regent's last will and testament in May, which saw the incoming monarch being whisked away by security when some members of the family opposed his nomination.
While its understood King Misuzulu has settled into his role, there are still some contestations.
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Buthelezi briefed the media on Friday as the three-month mourning period for the late King Goodwill Zwelithini came to an end.
“Yesterday the Queen Mother told me there was pressure by some people who said that the widows could not discard the mourning dress without some hunt, whatever shape or form, took place,” he said.
“But then clearly things have not been done properly because the King has to take out his father’s shield on that day, he is also to wash his weapons, his spear, and guns so we’re waiting for a date,” Prince Buthelezi added.
A date for King Misuzulu’s coronation is also yet to be decided.
“I assume that the Premier [Sihle Zikalala], because of the status of the King, probable will have to forward them to the President because the President of South Africa [Cyril Ramaphosa] ought to be involved in the coronation of the King.
“At the same time, I don’t think we should run away from the fact that there is an elephant in the room, in the sense that there are some people who have taken matters to court, who are opposing the coronation of the King and subsequently that there are some other members of the royal family whom I’m told have also submitted names of certain members of the royal family into the hat,” Prince Buthelezi explained.
READ: Tensions brewing within Zulu Royal family
“Those things clearly might hinder the speed at which we’re expecting the coronation to take place.”
The internal battles at the royal palace continue to play out in the public domain.
“Questions can be asked about whether we can in fact boast about stability. From our side, the majority of us in the royal family have no qualms about who is the King, we have no qualms about who is sitting on the throne.
“But at the same time, we cannot ignore that there are still people that are stirring the pot of conflict, including Princess Nombuso.”
