SATURDAY, 12 March marked a year since King Goodwill Zwelithini drew his last breath.
But instead of uniting and commemorating the day, the Zulu royal house had two parallel commemorations.
This comes after King Misuzulu refused to attend the one planned by King Zwelithini’s widows at KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace. The event was attended by those who opposed him, but support Zwelithini’s first son, Prince Simakade Zulu.
King Zwelithini’s daughters, princesses Ntandoyenkosi Zulu and Ntombizosuthu Zulu-Duma, also attended the event.
King Misuzulu hosted his commemoration at his home at KwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace. His memorial event was attended by his siblings, Zulu monarch Traditional Prime Minister Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi and King Bhekuzulu’s wife Queen Gwabini Zungu.
Zwelithini’s brother Prince Mbonisi Zulu told Daily Sun royal house division hurt them and they didn’t like it.
“We hoped the commemoration prayer will bring unity in the royal house because the event was planned by Zwelithini’s widows. We are shocked that others are doing their own commemoration in another palace, but the funeral was at KwaKhethomthandayo,” he said.
He said they would try to resolve the division as soon as possible.
King Misuzulu’s spokesman Prince Thulani Zulu said having two commemorations may paint a negative picture.
“King Misuzulu had no option because everyone knows he and others cannot go to KwaKhethomthandayo due to many reasons I will not talk about,” he said.
Delivering his speech, King Misuzulu said the commemoration will be hosted at KwaKhangelamankengane every year to honour Zwelithini.
“We started the commemoration on Thursday in Mpumalanga, west of Durban and I even went to Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital to see the place where my father passed on,” he said.
