South African justice has decided to uphold the appointment of Prince Misuzulu as heir to the late Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini. The court, however, suspended the execution of his will.
South African judge Isaac Madondo says Queen Sibongile's request is premature and rejected the request of Princesses Ntombizosuthu and Ntandoyenkosi, aimed at prevent the coronation of Prince Misuzulu as the next Zulu king. “No one else claims the throne… He is the undisputed successor to the throne,” declared the judge, who however suspended the execution of the contested will of his father Goodwill Zwelithini.
The Zulu are a Bantu people of southern Africa, partly settled, who are found mainly in South Africa. Politically, the Zulus have been deeply divided since 1980 between supporters of the African National Congress (ANC, founded in 1912) and those of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP, founded in 1975). Their presence in South Africa dates back to the XNUMXth century. Much like the Xhosa who settled in South Africa during earlier Bantu migration waves.
The Zulus created a powerful kingdom in 1816 under the conqueror Chaka who, endowed like his predecessors with broad power over the tribe, led the army of the Mthethwa confederation, took over from his mentor Dingiswayo and made a confederation of heterogeneous tribes an empire under Zulu hegemony.
The king is dead, long live the king ?
Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini died in March 2021 at age 72, after 50 years of rule, leaving behind six wives and at least 28 children.
Appointed regent in his will, his third wife and favourite, Shiyiwe Mantfombi Dlamini nominated his son, Misuzulu Zulu, 47, to succeed the king to the throne. The regent died suddenly a month after her husband and king. Reason why the coronation of the son did not take place. Especially after the challenge in court of the appointment of the new sovereign by the king's first wife, Queen Sibongile Dlamini, claiming to be the only legitimate wife since she is the only one to have been civilly married to the sovereign.
The other women were mistresses, according to Queen Sibongile Dlamini, and were united to the king only by traditional marriage. Princesses Ntombizosuthu and Ntandoyenkosi were associated with his complaint to prevent the coronation of Misuzulu until the will was verified. They dispute its validity, claiming that a signature, according to a graphologist, is false. But the real concern that creates divisions within the royal family is the personality of Misuzulu.
The 46-year-old new king was educated in the United States and stands in stark contrast to his parents' politics, as Zulu Prime Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi announced his support for Misuzulu. Knowing that if the Zulu nation sides with the ANC, it would mean the support of a fifth of the South African population for Cyril Ramaphosa. Otherwise, if the Zulus support Inkatha, the quarrels with the government will continue. In addition, the ANC would be threatened with sanctions, and Ramaphosa with dismissal.