Ndebeles identify next king

Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) has hailed the Khumalo royal family for seeking to restore the Mthwakazi kingdom following reports that a new Ndebele king has been identified.

Speaking at the annual King Mzilikazi commemorations at Mhlahlandlela at the weekend, Chief Mafu announced that the Nyamande family would provide the next king.

"We appeal yet again to those involved not to give us a puppet king and a sell out because we are serious about restoration," MRP said.
"We don't want anyone who will derail our course and, therefore, we need a pro-active king, one who is mature enough to understand what we all want."

A spokesperson of the King Lobengula Family Trust, Zwide Khumalo, confirmed that the Lobengula family had been locked up in efforts to identify an heir to the Ndebele throne.

"The Lobengula family has met and agreed that in the (Lobengula) family the royal spear is with the Nyamande family," he said.

"Nyamande was anointed king on June 25, 1896 by a council of chiefs that included Mlugulu Khumalo, Sikhombo Mguni, Babiyana Masuku and Sigombe Mathema. We obviously do not expect that they didn't know what they were doing."

Khumalo said Lobengula had eight sons — Mankisimana, Nyamande, Mhlambi, Sintinga, Njube, Mphezeni, Nguboyenja and Sidojiwe.

However, Mankisimana, Mphezeni and Nguboyenja did not have children.

"So it is the other five houses that are involved in the discussions on the next heir," Khumalo explained.

"What is encouraging is that despite the fact that the first attempt to commemorate Mzilikazi in 1960 failed because of whites' attempts to divide us, we are slowly finding each other. Since 2000, we are still finding each other.

"Some of the royal children are as far as Chikombedzi and others in the Tshangane area. We were dispersed by the colonising forces."

This year's commemorations were attended by thousands of people including chiefs Maduna and Ndiweni, Xhosa King Tshawe, Khumalo princes, self-anointed King Mzilikazi II, and the late nationalist Joshua Nkomo's son, Sibangilizwe, among other dignitaries.

Several cultural groups and figures also made an appearance including Jeys Marabini, members of internationally-renowned imbube group, Black Umfolosi, Imvimbi, Thandanani Women's Ensemble, and South Africa-based groups, Ibutho leNqama Amabhukudwana and Insukamini.