Durban - Zulu royal insiders have spoken out about a tussle for positions of influence within the royal family, indicating that the royal house has been targeted by “outsiders”.
The sources claim the contestation had now reached deadly proportions with the killing of Prince Mbongiseni Zulu who was buried this past weekend.
While the police have not made any arrest following the murder, this has not stopped speculation from a wide range of sources that Prince Mbongiseni had been seen as being too close to the reigning monarch, King Misuzulu kaZwelithini.
Some suggested he had blocked individuals seeking to take advantage of the royal house from having access to the king.
At the weekend, Prince Vanana Zulu lamented the prince’s murder when addressing mourners at the funeral in oSuthu, outside Ulundi.
“Was it not possible to have a proper discussion without the use of a gun and the ending of a life? What did he do that was so bad that he had to die?” the prince asked, citing disunity in the royal family as a major concern.
He appealed for family unity, adding that this would make it difficult for “outsiders” to do as they pleased.
A member of the royal family, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said some opportunists had identified land owned by the royal family as the prized asset to pursue.
“Remember, there is a lot of wealth in the royal family in terms of land that falls under the Ingonyama Trust, and many people want to get their hands on all of that,” said the insider.
He also pointed out that some parts of land falling under the trust had been identified as prime mining spots.
“When you have been identified as a person who stands in the way of those looking at looting, they would go to any lengths to deal with you, that is what happened to Prince Mbongiseni.
“Some of us believe that this is what happened to the prince,” said the insider.
He indicated that he had stepped up his security detail owing to being alert to the risks of being a member of the Zulu royal family.
Royal household spokesperson Prince Thulani Zulu indicated that he had been attending to a family bereavement and could not attend Prince Mbongiseni’s funeral and was not in a position to comment.
Zulu nation traditional prime minister Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi was also not available as there was a National Executive Committee meeting of the IFP.
KwaZulu-Natal Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Sihle Zikalala said he was not aware of the remarks that had been made by the prince at the funeral.
“It is important to point out that the Office of the Premier is appropriately positioned to speak on matters that relate to the royal family,” said Zikalala.
Spokesperson for the Office of the Premier, Lennox Mabaso, said the provincial government had confidence that the police would arrest those responsible for Prince Mbongiseni’s killing.