Durban - After confusion and accusations of backstabbing between Prince Thulani Zulu and Prince Africa Zulu, over who King Misuzulu’s spokesperson was, the king has clarified the matter.
In a meeting that was attended by both the king, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi as well as other coronation committee members, the king formally appointed Africa as his official spokesperson while Thulani would continue speaking for the royal family but not the king’s personal issues.
Prince Gobizizwe of Osuthu, who is a member of the coronation committee, confirmed the meeting.
“We all welcomed the clarification and we will support Prince Africa in his job as our king’s personal spokesperson,” he said.
The Daily News understands that the relationship between Prince Thulani and Prince Africa had not been good since Prince Africa also started speaking for the king, the job that Prince Thulani believed was his.
Our sister newspaper Isolezwe ngeSonto reported last month that the two princes were in a bitter fight for the position. There were also accusations of backstabbing between the two princes. Africa welcomed the clarification and said he was happy that the issue had been resolved because it indeed created confusion on who the media should speak to and on which matters.
Prince Thulani said he was unaware of the clarification and since he had not been informed about it he would not say anything.
Africa’s appointment was hailed by historian professor Jabulani Maphalala who believed that by appointing Africa as his spokesperson, King Misuzulu wanted to revive and elevate late Prince Shingana, who played a major role in the Zulu Kingdom during territorial wars with the British.
Prince Africa is the great-great-grandson of Shingana, who was a brother of King Cetshwayo.
Maphalala said it was a good move by the king because under his late father, King Zwelithini, Shingana was almost forgotten as a person who played a pivotal role in the defence of the kingship during the difficult period.
He said that Shingana had helped King Cetshwayo assume the throne and was arrested with King Dinuzulu in St Helena, an island with a history similar to Robben Island’s.
The appointment came as Prince Africa celebrates his birthday on Wednesday as he turns 44.
Prince Africa was born and raised at Onkweni residence, the area between Ulundi and Danny Dalton. Onkweni was the name of the Shingana residence.
After matriculating from Masibumbane High School, Prince Africa enrolled for a politics and psychology degree at the University of Natal.
In 2003 he was part of the delegation that went to the US to forge partnerships between New Orleans and Durban as cities. He also travelled to East and Western Europe to promote the Zulu culture.
In 2018 he was appointed as adviser to the new Information, Communications and Technology Minister princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini who is King Mswati’s eldest daughter, a position he vacated last year to work with King Misuzulu.
Daily News