King Misuzulu on the throne

AFTER weeks of tension and divisions that led to court action, the Zulu nation can finally look forward to the coronation of its next king.

King Misuzulu kaZwelithini, 47, the heir of the recently departed King Goodwill Zwelithini and Queen Mantfombi was named as a preferred successor to the powerful throne on Friday.

This came after the reading of his mother’s will, which was done live on television.

The announcement came amid tensions in the royal family which had divided the princes and princesses into two factions.

One of them was referred to as the “royal rebels”.

That was the faction that included the king’s siblings, Prince Mbonisi and Princess Thembi, who have been accused of holding “unauthorised” parallel meetings, regarding the successor.

The reading of the Queen Regent Mantfombi’s will would hit rocky ground when Prince Thokozani challenged its legality.

However, yesterday the situation appeared calm in the Kwangelamankengane palace, in Nongoma where the queen regent lived.

The family, including the King Prince Misuzulu, held long meetings yesterday morning.

Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, traditional prime minister to the Zulu monarch, confirmed that King Misuzulu was already on the throne, having assumed the duties of a king.

He said formalities would follow later on and he had been engaging with the premier of KwaZulu-Natal to facilitate the process.

Buthelezi also said the factions within the family had smoked the peace pipe and pledged to support the newly appointed king.

He said a meeting was held yesterday to address family differences.