Oct. 30 (EUROPA PRESS) –
The monarch Misuzulu kaZwelithini has been officially crowned this Saturday in the South African city of Durban as the first Zulu king in 51 years after a difficult succession process to lead the largest ethnic group in South Africa.
The ceremony brought together tens of thousands of people in the city’s football stadium and was attended by the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, who handed over the coronation certificate in person.
The 48-year-old monarch’s candidacy received the backing of leading members of the royal family to succeed the late Goodwill Zwelithini, who died last year at the age of 72 after a long illness from diabetes.
The Zulu monarch has no executive power but wields enormous influence over the country’s Zulu population, and his position is recognized by the South African government, as confirmed by the country’s president.
The coronation follows several palace intrigues that erupted last Saturday when a faction of the Zulu royal family opposed to Prince Misuzulu’s accession decided to hold their own coronation ceremony for the benefit of Prince Simakade Zulu, eldest son of the late king, born outside of marriage.
However, judicial experts consulted by the newspaper ‘Maverick’ do not anticipate legal problems when ratifying Misuzulu’s coronation because Simakade ended up writing a letter in which he recognized Misuzulu as the next Zulu king and previous court cases aimed at preventing ascending the throne had been dismissed by the courts.
