The 48-year-old is the son of the previous king, but members of the royal family had argued he was not the rightful heir
After a year-long family feud, Mr Misuzulu ka Zwelithini crowned king of the Zulu in a traditional ceremony in South Africa.
The 48-year-old is the son of the previous king, but members of the royal family had argued that he was not the rightful heir and that the late king’s will was actually a forgery, according to a BBC report.
Thousands of people gathered at his coronation on Saturday August 21 at KwaKhangelamankengane Palace. The king wore a lion skin, which he hunted for the royal event, a key feat to prove that he is indeed the… chosen one. More than 10 cows were slaughtered in preparation for the celebrations.
Next month he is to be hosted by the government for a state ceremony.
The throne has no formal political power, but one-fifth of South Africa’s population is Zulu. The Zulu kingdom has a proud history. It is world famous for the defeat of British troops during the Battle of Isandlwana in 1879.
His succession battles were always fierce and at times bloody. The legendary king Shaka ka Senzangakhona killed his brother in 1816 in order to seize the throne and was then assassinated himself in a plot orchestrated by his nephew years later.
Ngangiqala pobona ibutho elingaka esikhumbuszweni Sempi YaseSandlwane. #kingmisuzulukazwelithini #isilosamakhosi pic.twitter.com/TINxRBz95W
— King MisuZulu Ka Zwelithini (@Misuzuluking) August 18, 2022
When he died last year, King Zwelithini had six wives and had ruled for more than half a century. In his disputed will, he named his third wife, Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu, as regent, a sort of serving role pending the appointment of a successor.
Queen Mantfombi held the highest position among the king’s wives because she came from a royal family – her father was the late King Sobhuza II and her brother was King Mswati III of Eswatini.
Her marriage to the Zulus was on the condition that her first-born son would be first in line for the throne after her husband’s death. So when he died a month after becoming regent, their son Misuzulu ka Zwelithini was seen as the obvious choice to take over. He was also designated as heir in his mother’s will.
Furthermore, the fact that Prince Misuzulu was the only person to inherit the traditional arms of his grandfather, King Cyprian Bhekuzulu ka Solomon, was seen as confirmation that he would eventually take over from his father.
However, two more sons of the late king lay claim to the throne. The royal family has split into three factions, each of which supports its preferred prince: Misuzulu ka Zwelithini, Simakade ka Zwelithini and Buzabazi ka Zwelithini.
[WATCH] The moment #KingMisuZuluKaZwelithini emerged from the sacred space within his kraal. @Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/gMwcXfYKv9
— Ziyanda N (@ZiyandaNgcobo) August 20, 2022
In March, South Africa’s president officially recognized Misuzulu ka Zwelithini as the new Zulu king, but Misuzulu’s brother Mbonisi Zulu launched a legal challenge, asking the court to stop the coronation.
However, the court rejected his application and allowed the coronation proceedings to continue. Just a week before the traditional coronation of the future Misuzulu king, his half-brother Prince Simakade was announced as the new monarch by a handful of supporters within the royal family.
Meanwhile, three of King Zwelithini’s siblings called a press conference on Thursday to announce Prince Buzabazi as their choice, claiming that of all the sons he had the closest relationship with his father.
Even on the day of the coronation ceremony, the new king’s half-sisters filed an urgent application in the Pietermaritzburg High Court to try to stop the coronation. Princesses Ntandoyenkosi and Ntombizosuthu said their late father’s will may have been forged. The appeal was rejected by the court.
Misuzulu has received strong support from other family members, who argue that custom dictates that he is the rightful heir.
Thank you to uMntwana wakwaPhindangene for supporting our King from the beginning until now what a great moment for the amaZulu nation.#ZuluRoyalFamily #KingMisuZuluKaZwelithini #kingmisuzulu #InkosiEsibayeni pic.twitter.com/eZtxOvjErR
— Muzi Buthelezi (@_MuzieB) August 20, 2022
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