By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The late monarch King Goodwill Zwelithini’s brother has approached the court to stop Prince Misuzulu Zulu from going ahead with “coronation”.
Prince Mbonisi Zulu has launched an urgent application in the Pietermaritzburg high court, which he says is supported by some members of the royal family, seeking an order to stop the alleged coronation.
Prince Mbonisi wants an order stopping the ceremony until the outcome of two related court applications, set down for hearing on December 7, in which Queen Sibongile Winifred Zulu, the first wife of the late king, is seeking to lay claim to half his estate through her marriage in community of property.
In the second application, her daughters, princesses Ntandoyenkosi Zulu and Ntombizosuthu Zulu-Duma, are challenging the authenticity of the late king’s will, claiming his signature was forged.
They also dispute that the late king, who died on March 21, wanted Misuzulu kaZwelithini, the eldest son of his third wife, Queen Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu, to take over the throne.
Prince Mbonisi, in his urgent application, wants the court to ban further steps which may be construed as recognising Misuzulu as king.
He said he and others “learnt through the grapevine” about the coronation.
Prince Mbonisi said if the coronation went ahead it would prejudice the outcome of the pending court applications and “further divide” the royal family.
The traditional prime minister of the Zulu nation,Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi said is opposing the application and has denied that a coronation is being planned.
Buthelezi said he had publicly stated that there would not be a coronation until the court cases had been finalised.
“The process leading up to a coronation has five tiers. A ceremony cannot occur before a recognised certificate is published in the government gazette and the premier arranges the ceremony,” he said.
It could be that Prince Mbonisi had become confused by a planned private family traditional ritual in which the king is “ushered into the kraal” where ancestors rest, he said.
“I underscore the event is purely a private matter. It does not in any way proximate a special ceremony arranged by the premier to affirm the appointed and recognised king. It is one of the five steps I have alluded to,”he said, asking that the application be dismissed.
The two applications, to be heard on December 7, are also being opposed by Buthelezi.