This was confirmed by the traditional prime minister to the Zulu nation Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, on Tuesday during media brief at KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace, Nongoma.
Prince Buthelezi said says regiments called amabutho will be part of the planting ceremony tomorrow night. The King’s body has been kept at a mortuary in Nongoma in northern KwaZulu-Natal.
The interred ceremony will be attended only by men- as per the King’s wish.
“Wherever the King is amabutho will be there and even here amabutho will be carrying the King right up to the palace because they have an important role. In fact, when it comes to the funeral although it is secret, amabutho form part of the funeral of the majesty, everything is performed by amabutho,” says the Prince.
This clears the confusion that emanated on how and when will the King was meant to be interred, that caused uneasiness in the Royal family this week.
The will of the late King, will only be read after his memorial service, insisted Prince Buthelezi.
“I know for a fact that after the memorial service, the king’s will will be read,” said Buthelezi.
However, he did not reveal whether the reading of the will would reveal the name of the late monarch’s successor.
“It would be grossly irresponsible for me to give a preview of what will happen, especially about a sensitive matter like that. I don’t know what is in the will so I cannot speculate. The people who have the will said they wanted space so I am as ignorant as you are,” he said.
The Prince also confirmed they will be taking legal action against City Press for publishing an article that was not in good taste, this past Sunday.
On the day of the interred, according to a source close to the Royal family, weather will be different in the KwaZulu-Natal, be it lightning, a storm or anything untoward- as a sign of bidding farewell to the King.
Various political organisation leaders and business people came in large numbers to send messages of condolences to the family on Tuesday.
The Zulu royal household said President Cyril Ramaphosa would deliver the eulogy at the memorial service of King Zwelithini on Thursday.
In an effort to discourage mourners from descending on the royal household for the memorial service due to Covid-19 restrictions, Prince Buthelezi assured people that King Zwelithini would not have wanted them to attend.
“Some individuals have said they plan to break lockdown regulations and descend on Nongoma in large numbers, but measures have been put in place to avert this.
“Our late beloved king would never be used as an excuse to break protocols and regulations. That would be going against his wishes.”
To demonstrate the king’s commitment to abiding by Covid-19 regulations and protecting lives, Buthelezi shared that he was forbidden to attend the funeral of the king’s son, Prince Lethukuthula Zulu.
The government on Tuesday announced an electronic condolences book for use by anyone “who would like to send a message of condolence to the royal family, the Zulu nation and the people of KwaZulu-Natal and beyond”.
This will form part of drastic changes to ways of paying last respects, with virtual goodbyes for the king set to accommodate those who cannot attend in person as a normal send-off was suspended due to the pandemic.
King Zwelithini died aged 72 in the specialised Inkosi Albert Luthuli Hospital in Durban on Friday.
Wena we Ndlovu. Bayede!
Image (Traditional prime minister to the Zulu nation Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi addressing members of the press at KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace, Nongoma on Tuesday).
