News / Africa
Zulu king wants British royals to pay up for destroying Zulu palace in 1879
24 Jun 2015 at 06:16hrs | Views
King Goodwill Zwelithini wants the British royal family to pay the Zulu kingdom for destroying his great-grandfather's palace in 1879, a News24 report said on Wednesday.
Zwelithini said he didn't harbour any animosity towards the "English emperor" but said it would be "nice if the English kingdom would one day compensate us", reported The Mercury newspaper.
The Zulu royal was speaking at the sod-turning of the new Sandlwana Heritage Project in Dundee.
"This has always been a dream of his, the king has always wanted something like this," said Zwelithini's spokesperson, Prince Thulani Zulu, adding that the village would benefit the Zulu nation and other South Africans in reminding them what happened during the Battle of Isandlwana.
The Battle of Isandlwana took place on January 22 1879. The British Army was defeated when about 24 000 Zulu warriors reportedly attacked a British camp of about 1 700 near Isandlwana Mountain. It is reported that 1 300 of the British forces were killed.
Zwelithini's great-grandfather King Cetshwayo's Ondini Palace was set on fire by the British army on July 4 1879.
Zwelithini said he didn't harbour any animosity towards the "English emperor" but said it would be "nice if the English kingdom would one day compensate us", reported The Mercury newspaper.
"This has always been a dream of his, the king has always wanted something like this," said Zwelithini's spokesperson, Prince Thulani Zulu, adding that the village would benefit the Zulu nation and other South Africans in reminding them what happened during the Battle of Isandlwana.
The Battle of Isandlwana took place on January 22 1879. The British Army was defeated when about 24 000 Zulu warriors reportedly attacked a British camp of about 1 700 near Isandlwana Mountain. It is reported that 1 300 of the British forces were killed.
Zwelithini's great-grandfather King Cetshwayo's Ondini Palace was set on fire by the British army on July 4 1879.
Source - news24
