King Misuzulu kaZwelithini. | Bongani Mbatha/Independent Newspapers
Durban — Apparently angered by the restructuring of his delegation team which included 300 amabutho, King Misuzulu has cancelled his trip to Malawi.
The king was scheduled to bring a 300-strong delegation to this year’s Umthetho Cultural Festival which kicks off on Wednesday and end on Saturday at Hora Heritage Centre in Mzimba, a town in Malawi.
The king, together with his delegation was expected to leave on Tuesday or Wednesday after attending the State of the Provincial Address by premier Thami Ntuli.
Answering questions from the media after delivering his maiden State of the Provincial Address, the premier said his office working together with Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs supports the trip and approved a restructured delegation, however, the king’s close aide, Prince Simphiwe Zulu, told the Daily News on the sideline of the opening of the legislature that the king was no longer going to Malawi. He cited the funding as the main reason for cancellation of the trip, saying instead the king has sent a delegation of princes to represent him in the ceremony.
“No, the king is no longer taking that trip. He felt it would be embarrassing to go with a small number of amabutho and therefore he cancelled, but he has sent some princes to represent him,” said Prince Zulu.
Last week, it was reported that the king’s delegation was to cost the provincial budget R3.6 million which the government was apparently not happy about, and it had reportedly asked the king to reduce the number of regiments. It was also reported that most of the delegation would travel by road to Malawi.
The was to honour an invitation by King M’mbelwa V of Ngoni kingdom in Malawi. The ceremony would celebrate his 10th anniversary on the throne.
The cancellation is also expected to come as a relief to the Malawians, which reportedly increased the ceremony budget from K75 million (kwachas) (about R787 000) to K156m, due to the high number of people who would accompany the Zulu king. It was also reported that the king had already sent a delegation led by his sister, Princess Ntando, to Malawi to do logistical preparations ahead of his visit.
King M’mbelwa attended and spoke during King Misuzulu’s kraal entering ceremony in 2022. In his speech, he lamented the borders separating the Malawi and Zulu kingdoms, saying Malawians were also Zulus.
It is not yet clear whether the cancellation will sour relations between the king and the provincial government.
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