KwaZulu-Natal ready to roll out the red carpet for King Misuzulu
Durban — More than 48 000 people and 2 500 guests are expected to fill Moses Mabhida Stadium for the ceremonial handover of the certificate of recognition to King Misuzulu KaZwelithini by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Saturday.
Some 80 buses and more than 200 minibus taxis have been arranged to transport Amabutho, oMama and Izintombi, while eThekwini has confirmed the procurement of 100 additional buses for its residents.
Some of the confirmed foreign dignitaries are kings from Eswatini, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, and Botswana. This was revealed during a media briefing on the state of readiness for the event by an inter-ministerial task team at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Thursday.
The task team included Minister of Co-operative Government and Traditional Affairs Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube, eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda, and Minister of Sports, Art and Culture Nathi Mthethwa.
Held under the theme Liphumile ilanga KwaZulu (“the sun has risen on the Zulu nation”), Dube-Ncube said the event would inspire a wave of hope across the length and breadth of society following the dark autumn of 2021.
“Our nation was dealt a gaping wound that would take a lifetime to heal, as we witnessed the demise of His Majesty King Zwelithini and Regent Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu in close succession.
“We converge here exactly two days before this historic event and, indeed, the entire world bears witness to a sacred ceremony that for many people will happen once in a lifetime. It is because of this reason that the whole world is eagerly awaiting this event because it is steeped in historical significance when you consider the fact that this event last happened in 1971,” she said.
Dube-Ncube said the city’s preparations were ready to ensure the event was successful, adding that the historic ceremony would be remembered by many generations to come.
She said that, owing to the magnitude and significance of the event, a huge attendance was anticipated, and therefore people would be accommodated in the overflow areas.
“Let us advise that we will provide details of the actual expenditure as opposed to estimates. This will be done through detailed expenditure reports to the accounting structures in the legislature. We wish to assure citizens that we have taken due care to exercise prudence in spending resources for this event and in ensuring that every cent is spent wisely,” said Dube-Ncube.
Taking the fight for the Zulu throne down to the wire, Prince Mbonisi, Prince Vulindlela and Prince Mathuba closed their own press conference in Durban by insisting they did not recognise King Misuzulu as king. They also said Saturday’s coronation was not blessed by them as elders and core members of the Zulu royal family.
The traditional prime minister of the Zulu monarch and nation Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi said the ceremony would be a culmination of the long-standing culture that had been known within the royal court that King Misuzulu was heir to the throne.
With throngs of Zulu faithful and various guests eager to witness the occasion, Buthelezi encouraged people to rather watch the proceedings on television than come to the stadium, to avoid a stampede.
Daily News