By Celani Sikhakhane
The Zulu royal family is unhappy with the KwaZulu-Natal government for cutting the number of people allowed on a planned R3.6-million trip to Malawi.
King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has been invited to celebrate King M’mbelwa V’s 10th anniversary and attend the Umthetho Cultural Festival from 31 July to 3 August at the Hora Heritage Centre in Mzimba.
King M’mbelwa V is the reigning monarch of the Mombera Kingdom, which includes the Ngoni and Tumbuka people in Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania.
Initially, 1,000 regiments were supposed to fly with the king, but the government reduced the number to 10 regiments and 10 royal family members to save money.
The Malawi festival reportedly expected over 1,000 regiments to join the king.
A well-placed and reliable royal family source said some family members are upset that the government won’t approve the budget for the trip.
The source said the king would fly to Malawi, but the 10 regiments and 10 royal family members would have to travel 32 hours by bus.
He added that the group only needed R300,000 for transport since Malawi would cover accommodation. The group was critical of the government for spending R7-million on the Premier’s Cup but not approving R300,000 for their trip.
Others worry the smaller group won’t protect the king adequately and might disrespect the Zulu nation.
Induna Muzi Nyandeni, a regiment leader, said the government told them 60 regiments, 15 maidens, and 45 royals would have to travel by bus.
Premier Thami Ntuli said he and Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, the MEC for cooperative governance traditional affairs and the traditional prime minister to the Zulu monarch, are handling the issue.
KZN director-general Dr Nonhlanhla Mkhize told Scrolla.Africa she is glad the premier is dealing with the issue.
Pictured above: KZN director-general Dr Nonhlanhla Mkhize is glad Premier Thami Ntuli is dealing with the Zulu royal family’s trip to Malawi.
Source: Zandile Nsutsha/KZN Premier
