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Tussle over Ndebele king takes a new twist
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The long-running dispute over the Ndebele monarch has reignited after a fresh social media post from Stanley Raphael Tshuma Khumalo's camp challenged claims that the late Chief Vezi Maduna Mafu endorsed rival claimant Bulelani Khumalo as heir to the throne.
The row was triggered by remarks from Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni of Ntabazinduna, who told attendees at a King Mzilikazi commemoration in the UK that Chief Maduna had thrown his weight behind Bulelani.
In response, Stanley Khumalo's spokesperson, Greater Sibanda, dismissed the claim as false and published what he said was a sworn affidavit signed by the late chief.
"This is a distortion of facts," Sibanda wrote on Facebook. "Chief Maduna Mafu openly rejected Bulelani's claim and put his position on record through a sworn affidavit for avoidance of doubt. It is clear evidence that Chief Ndiweni was not truthful and the public must not be misled."
The affidavit, dated August 22, 2017, allegedly states that Chief Maduna attended the meeting where Bulelani was unveiled as Crown Prince but opposed the process. "I noted that King Lobengula's family had not been invited to the meeting," the affidavit reads. "We also noted that the King Lobengula family had not been consulted about Bulelani as the likely Prince. As chiefs we did not endorse him."
However, Chief Ndiweni dismissed the document as a fabrication designed to discredit both Chief Maduna and the kingship revival process.
"What is being posted on social media is a document that wants to tarnish the image of the great Chief Maduna," Ndiweni told reporters. "Maduna was a great chief, who stood for Matabeleland without retreat. The document has no truth in it. These are beerhall lies and a criminal act."
Ndiweni said Chief Maduna was a pivotal figure in the restoration of the Ndebele throne, adding that the revival process had been underway since 2015, with roots stretching back to discussions in the 1970s. He insisted that the August 19, 2017, meeting was the culmination of broad consultations involving all five major Khumalo houses.
"When there are five houses and out of them only one house is opposed, while the rest agree, we then go with the majority," Ndiweni explained. "We could not allow 123 years to pass without a king."
He also rejected the relevance of the King Lobengula Royal Trust, mentioned in the affidavit, describing it as a private entity with no authority over the clan's decisions.
Ndiweni recounted subsequent milestones, including the blocked coronation attempt at Barbourfields Stadium in March 2018, and what he described as Bulelani's eventual crowning on September 28, 2018, in Bulawayo.
"On that day the king was crowned as the third Ndebele King," he said. "The next day we shouted Bayethe for the first time in 123 years. Maduna was most influential in that process."
The Ndebele kingship has four claimants: Stanley Raphael Tshuma Khumalo, Mcijwana Khumalo, Peter Zwide Khumalo, and Bulelani Khumalo. Of the four, Bulelani has maintained the highest public profile, often receiving royal chants at cultural events, while his rivals' presence remains largely confined to statements disputing his legitimacy.
The row was triggered by remarks from Chief Nhlanhlayamangwe Ndiweni of Ntabazinduna, who told attendees at a King Mzilikazi commemoration in the UK that Chief Maduna had thrown his weight behind Bulelani.
In response, Stanley Khumalo's spokesperson, Greater Sibanda, dismissed the claim as false and published what he said was a sworn affidavit signed by the late chief.
"This is a distortion of facts," Sibanda wrote on Facebook. "Chief Maduna Mafu openly rejected Bulelani's claim and put his position on record through a sworn affidavit for avoidance of doubt. It is clear evidence that Chief Ndiweni was not truthful and the public must not be misled."
The affidavit, dated August 22, 2017, allegedly states that Chief Maduna attended the meeting where Bulelani was unveiled as Crown Prince but opposed the process. "I noted that King Lobengula's family had not been invited to the meeting," the affidavit reads. "We also noted that the King Lobengula family had not been consulted about Bulelani as the likely Prince. As chiefs we did not endorse him."
However, Chief Ndiweni dismissed the document as a fabrication designed to discredit both Chief Maduna and the kingship revival process.
"What is being posted on social media is a document that wants to tarnish the image of the great Chief Maduna," Ndiweni told reporters. "Maduna was a great chief, who stood for Matabeleland without retreat. The document has no truth in it. These are beerhall lies and a criminal act."
Ndiweni said Chief Maduna was a pivotal figure in the restoration of the Ndebele throne, adding that the revival process had been underway since 2015, with roots stretching back to discussions in the 1970s. He insisted that the August 19, 2017, meeting was the culmination of broad consultations involving all five major Khumalo houses.
"When there are five houses and out of them only one house is opposed, while the rest agree, we then go with the majority," Ndiweni explained. "We could not allow 123 years to pass without a king."
He also rejected the relevance of the King Lobengula Royal Trust, mentioned in the affidavit, describing it as a private entity with no authority over the clan's decisions.
Ndiweni recounted subsequent milestones, including the blocked coronation attempt at Barbourfields Stadium in March 2018, and what he described as Bulelani's eventual crowning on September 28, 2018, in Bulawayo.
"On that day the king was crowned as the third Ndebele King," he said. "The next day we shouted Bayethe for the first time in 123 years. Maduna was most influential in that process."
The Ndebele kingship has four claimants: Stanley Raphael Tshuma Khumalo, Mcijwana Khumalo, Peter Zwide Khumalo, and Bulelani Khumalo. Of the four, Bulelani has maintained the highest public profile, often receiving royal chants at cultural events, while his rivals' presence remains largely confined to statements disputing his legitimacy.
Source - Southern Eye
