Who is fit to be king? The firstborn, or the late king’s favourite, or the son birthed by the Great Wife?
These are the pressing questions as a succession struggle rages in the Zulu royal family.
While King Misuzulu kaZwelithini took a major step yesterday towards filling the shoes of his late father King Goodwill Zwelithini, two of his brothers are also laying claim to the throne.
King Misuzulu — who the government formally recognises as the Zulu monarch — performed the tribal ritual of “entering the kraal” in the early hours of the morning. The ritual is the traditional Zulu equivalent of a coronation.
The event, attended by thousands at the KwaKhangelamankengane palace in Nongoma, followed a similar ceremony last week when King Misuzulu’s brother, Prince Simakade, also “entered the kraal” — but at a different palace, Enyokeni.
During the week, one of the late king’s siblings, Prince Mbonisi, announced that his faction supports a third brother as heir to the throne — Prince Buzabazi.
King Misuzulu’s claim stems from a will left by his father, who bequeathed the throne to his mother, Queen Mantfombi — “the Great Wife” — as regent. When Mantfombi herself died only weeks later, her will nominated Misuzulu as next in line.
The succession battle has been and still is the subject of court cases.
Misuzulu has the influential IFP founder and traditional prime minister of the kingdom, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, in his corner. Others supporting his claim include Queen Mavis Zungu, widow of King Zwelithini’s father King Cyprian; princes Philemon and Zeblon Zulu, who are influential elders in the royal house; and Queen Zola KaMafu, King Zwelithini’s sixth and final wife.
Prince Simakade is King Zwelithini’s eldest living son. He was born out of wedlock but grew up at the KwaKhangelamankengane palace.
Those who support him are adamant that his status as firstborn makes him the rightful heir. However those opposed to him dispute this claim because his mother was not married to the late king.
The most prominent family member in support of Prince Simakade is Prince Mxolisi Ka Bhekuzulu, one of the late king’s brothers.
Family insiders this week told Sunday Times that it has become difficult to ascertain who supports which candidate as some royal houses are “divided down the middle”.
This was evident on Saturday when some members of the house of Engidwini attended King Misuzulu's traditional coronation while others turned out for Prince Simakade’s coronation at Enyokeni last week.
The people who are supposed to come up with a name are us, the people who were born with the king
— Prince Mbonisi KaBhekuzulu
Meanwhile the third brother, Prince Buzabazi — the fourth son of Queen Buhle kaMathe, the late king's second wife — has the backing of three of his late father's brothers.
One of them, Prince Mbonisi KaBhekuzulu, told the Sunday Times only the immediate family of the late king had the authority to decide on the succession.
“He [King Zwelithini] elected members by himself to make these decisions. What we are stressing is that the people who are supposed to come up with a name are us, the people who were born with the king — the other houses must hear from us,” he said.
Prince Mbonisi said as the closest brothers to the late king who were still alive, they owed it to him to push for the coronation of Prince Buzabazi.
“When Bayede [King Zwelithini] was nearing the end of his days, this is the only son he discussed wishes for his burial with. I’m not saying he was the favourite, because the king loved all his children, but their bond was too strong.
“His father raised him in a way that he understands what the kingdom is, how to sustain it, treasure it and protect it — the whole family knows this about the king and Prince Buzabazi. That is why we trust him because we saw how much our brother the king trusted him throughout his life. There is nothing the king did that he doesn't know how to do,” Prince Mbonisi said.
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