By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Zulu Royal Family says that for the first time since the death of King Goodwill Zwelithini, family meetings to determine the process of announcing his successor have included relevant parties in the Zulu kingdom as a whole.
This, according to a statement by the royal family on Saturday, is significant and progressive.
“A number of meetings between the families have taken place over the past weeks, subsequent to the acknowledgment of the disputes that have infiltrated the Zulu monarchy after the interment of the late king. The latest meeting took place on August 1,” it said.
For the first time since the passing of King Goodwill Zwelithini, the family meetings have broadened up to include relevant parties in the Zulu kingdom as a whole.
“The discussions follow a press conference that was held post the family cleansing ceremony on June 19 where the family informed the Zulu nation and South Africans at large that they had finished the mourning period and would start with the discussions of announcing the king.”
According to the statement, it was in these meetings that letters were written and issued to relevant individuals and government offices on the family proceedings and the status of disputes around the throne.
Meanwhile Inkosi Mangosuthu Buthelezi has extensively detailed why his position as the traditional prime minister of the Zulu monarch and nation, which gives him the immense powers that are now being questioned by royal family members who are saying he is imposing himself, was bestowed to him and grants him the right to convene royal meetings.
His explanation is contained in responding papers he filed after Queen Sibongile Dlamini-Zulu asked the Pietermaritzburg High Court to kick him out of the royal battle over the estate and the will of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini.
The queen and her two daughters, Princess Ntandoyenkosi Zulu and Princess Ntombizosuthu Zulu-Duma, are contesting that Buthelezi should not take part in the battle because “he is a mere nephew” and his position is not constitutionally recognised.
But Buthelezi is having none of it, arguing the position of traditional prime minister gives him the right to convene royal meetings and at some point, he called meetings when the late king had marital issues with his wives.
Giving historical background, Buthelezi said the position has always been held by the Buthelezis of Mahlabathini in Ulundi, starting from Inkosi Ngqengelele and he is holding it because he was appointed to it by King Cyprian in 1954, taking it from his late father, Inkosi Mathole Buthelezi.
Beyond that, Buthelezi argues that he is also a royal family member as he is the son of Princess Constance Magogo and he grew up in the Zulu royal court.