Prince Simakade Zulu, the eldest son of the late Amazulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, says he will work with members of the royal family to restore unity within their ranks.
Some members of the royal family recognized him as the new monarch after he performed the king’s accession ceremony at the Enyokeni Royal Palace in Nongoma at the weekend.
This is an important ceremony after the death of the Amazulu monarch.
#sabcnews #sabckzn Entry into the ritual kraal was done in private. This is one of the key rituals following the death of an Amazulu monarch and the recognition of a successor. pic.twitter.com/wN3i31sUg0
— Fanele Mhlongo (@FaneleMhlongo1) August 14, 2022
Traditional Prime Minister Prince Mangasuthu Buthelezi earlier said Prince Simakade was conducting the ritual illegally as the government already recognizes King Misuzulu as the heir to the throne.
Prince Shimakade gave his first address after performing the rite of passage as a king. . .
“I believe that I can work together with them to build this Kingdom so that it can return to normal life. And will be able to put it where God wanted. We are lost as Amazulu Nation. We have forgotten who we are.’
An expert on Zulu culture, Professor Sikhawu Ngubane of the University of KwaZulu-Natal explains the importance of the ceremony, describing it as sacred because of the belief that the king should wield power in both a natural and supernatural sense.
“We know that the king is associated with supernatural sovereignty, so when you become a king, you have to go and introduce the new heir to his ancestors so that he can receive blessings,” says Ngubane.
Prince Shimakade is a claimant to the disputed Zulu throne, and his decision to hold the ceremony in front of Missuzulu is seen as provocative.
President Ramaphosa recognizes Missuzulu as King of Amazulu:
