South Africa based Ndebele king claimant responds to Zimbabwe govt

The office of King Bulelani Lobengula kaMzilikazi has called for calm and constructive dialogue following criticism from Zimbabwean government officials over the monarch's recent visit to Bulawayo.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the South Africa-based royal office responded to remarks made by Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe and ZANU-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa, who publicly questioned the King's meeting with Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart and hinted at political impropriety.

The King's office, however, clarified that the visit was strictly cultural in nature, describing it as a private pilgrimage to the ancestral heartland of the Ndebele people.

"His Majesty's visit to Bulawayo was in no way a political event or an act of defiance," the statement read. "It was a private and dignified cultural pilgrimage marked by mutual respect, peaceful engagement, and cultural significance."

Reaffirming King Bulelani's symbolic role, the statement said his mission is one of unity, restoration, and cultural empowerment for uMthwakazi descendants spread across southern Africa.

"His Majesty holds a deeply rooted ancestral and cultural position within the hearts of the uMthwakazi people. His role is not political but restorative, cultural, and symbolic-focused on uniting Mthwakazi descendants through heritage, identity, and community development," it added.

The royal office also took exception to recent threats and dismissive language from government quarters, cautioning that cultural and traditional matters should be handled with sensitivity and respect.

"Dismissive language or threats of arrest directed at a traditional and cultural figure, whose mission is reconciliation, unity, and empowerment, do not reflect the spirit of Ubuntu or the values enshrined in Pan-Africanism," the statement said.

It further reaffirmed its commitment to peaceful engagement, emphasising that traditional leadership has a legitimate place in national identity and reconciliation.

"We believe that coexistence between traditional structures and state governance is not only possible but necessary for a more inclusive and reconciled future."

The King's office also extended an invitation to all stakeholders, including government and civil society, to work collaboratively in preserving traditional institutions that predate modern political boundaries.

"We remain open to constructive dialogue to find common ground that can contribute meaningfully to community development, national unity, and cultural tourism."

In conclusion, the royal office thanked Zimbabweans for their support and solidarity, calling for mutual respect and national healing.

"His Majesty's presence is not an imposition, but a reminder of a shared aspiration and history that yearns for healing, dignity, and recognition."

The statement comes amid ongoing debates about the recognition of traditional leaders, especially in historically significant regions such as Matabeleland, where calls for cultural restoration and autonomy have persisted for decades.