By Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi MP
Traditional Prime Minister to the Zulu Monarch and Nation
Today, in the presence of more than 200 members of the Royal Family, His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini ka Bhekuzulu’s will was read by his lawyers. In line with the wishes of His Majesty the King, the Family would like to announce that Her Majesty Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu will act as Regent of the Zulu Nation during the interregnum.
While Her Majesty is the de facto Regent, further decisions on the succession of the Zulu monarchy will not be announced until the Family’s mourning period has been observed. The loss of His Majesty the King has been a tremendous blow and the Family must be allowed to grieve.
However, the Regent and the Royal Family have asked that I impress upon the Nation the late King’s wish for his people to take out their hoes on Friday. As a champion of food security and subsistence farming, His Majesty urged that things not come to a standstill for a long mourning period. People are thus free to plough and plant and work from Friday 26 March 2021, in accordance with His Majesty’s wishes.