The late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s daughter has opened a can of worms on her father’s tumultuous relationship with Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwethini.
Princess Phumzile Buthelezi told mourners gathered inside a tent that her father’s “fallout” with the present King had badly harmed his health right up until his death, addressing publicly before a Zulu royal family delegation that came to Buthelezi’s house in KwaPhindagene on Monday.
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Recounting her conversation with Buthelezi, the princess told mourners, including royal family members, that her father had supposedly protested about the King’s “unbecoming” behaviour.
This is in relation to an event a few months ago in which the king allegedly banged tables and used abusive language towards Buthelezi during a closed-door meeting.
“My child, I have been tortured by this; I can’t even eat or sleep,” the princess recalled her father saying.
She went on to say that the former Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) leader had even asked the king’s uncle, King Mswati III of Eswatini, to intercede.
It is unclear what sparked the heated confrontation between Buthelezi and the king during their private encounter.
The princess stated that her father was humiliated and that the late King Goodwill Zwelithini never addressed him in such a manner.
“I wish to open up and say the Prince (Buthelezi) is like this because of the issue of the royal house; that thing crippled him, and later there were these other issues,” the princess told the mourners.
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Questions about the princess’s remarks were directed to Prince Africa Zulu, the king’s spokesperson.
After the comment is received, this story will be updated.
Meanwhile, hundreds of mourners have continued to arrive at Buthelezi’s homestead since his death on September 9 at the age of 95.
