Durban – The Zulu Royal budget has accepted the budget cut by the KwaZulu-Natal Prime Minister’s office while preparing a handful of celebrations.
Her budget was cut by R5 million. Last year the family received R71 million for their expenses.
Prime Minister Sihle Zikalala delivered the KZN’s budget speech on Friday, a week after the announcement of the new Zulu monarch, King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.
The king, who sent a delegation to pay his longtime sweetheart Ntokozo Mayisela to Newcastle Lobola, is expected to tie the knot in the coming weeks before his coronation.
Despite the budget cut, the royal family are preparing for the much-anticipated coronation ceremony, which is expected to be a formidable event.
His Majesty King Misuzulu Zulu during the memorial service of the late Queen of Regent Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu in Nongoma. Image: Bongani Mbatha / African News Agency (ANA)
While providing the budget, Zikalala said that the activities related to the coronation of the new king will be funded with the same budget. He added that this would be the first coronation in a long time and would be a fitting tribute to the late King Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu, who would have reached 50 years on the throne this year.
Prince Thulani Zulu, spokesman for the royal budget, said they hadn’t made any budget cuts considering all budgets for government departments had been cut.
“We know the country is fighting the Covid-19 pandemic and part of the budget has been allocated for it. We believe it is not political, we have to work with what has been assigned to us.
There is also new blood (new king), some things can change. However, should we run into financial challenges, we will negotiate with the Prime Minister’s office over the royal trust that oversees the budget. It’s also important to note that there was a rollover from last year’s budget that the government may have taken into account when deciding to cut the budget, ”said Prince Thulani, royal spokesman.
The royal household budget is usually spent on hosting annual traditional and cultural events designed to preserve Zulu culture, such as the commemoration of King Shaka and the reed dance ceremony.
It also used to maintain six royal palaces for the late King Zwelithini, including maintaining the lifestyle of its queens, groceries, medical aid, gasoline, diesel, six vehicles, and rental cars if the vehicles break down.
The late king previously complained that the budget did not cover all expenses.
A report filed before the Prime Minister’s Office Committee recently found that R1 million was spent on replacing carpets and R1 1.4 million on laying floor tiles in the same house.
It is not clear whether King Misuzulu will inherit one of his father’s palaces or choose a new one.
However, Prince Thulani indicated that more weddings may be on the way.
King Misuzulu has a 15-year-old son with Princess Wezizwe Sigcau from amaMpondo Royal and two children with the future queen.
Prince Thulani indicated that the king wanted to bring all of his children home with their mothers.
“The king paid lobola last week and we are preparing for a wedding suitable for the king. Regarding the Eastern Cape Princess, the king will make a decision and should he marry her as a great woman, his subjects will contribute to the lobola of more than 300 cows, ”he said.
King MisuZulu’s first week on the throne was an eventful one, dealing with personal security issues, paying lobola, and having peace talks with some kings.
Zikalala visited the king to clarify the security issue after reports that VIP police services had been withdrawn. Then there were allegations of an argument by one of his siblings over his ascension to the throne, who was later dismissed by the royal family. In the midst of these events, he sent a delegation to pay his lobola of R50,000 and eight cows.
The king has been officially introduced to the royal family and is expected to travel to eSwatini to introduce the future queen to the family there and to bid farewell to his uncle, King Sobhuza III.
Prince Thulani said the family had smoked the peace pipe over the successor issue and a date for the wedding and coronation will be announced once preparations are complete.
Sunday Tribune