Durban — UMkhonto weSizwe Party leader in KwaZulu-Natal Willies Mchunu will be one of the guest speakers at the first King Zwelithini Memorial Lecture on Friday.
The event which is organised by the late king’s queens will take place at the University of Zululand in northern KZN.
According to Prince Thulani Zulu who has been tasked by the queens to speak to the media, Mchunu was chosen because of his good relationship with the late king during his tenure as the political head of the provincial government.
Mchunu announced his retirement from active politics due to ill health in 2019, paving the way for Sihle Zikalala to take the reins as the new Premier after the 2019 general elections. Prince Zulu is both the former spokesperson of the late king and King Misuzulu.
Mchunu who has recently deserted his long time party, the ANC, is now the provincial convener of the MKP.
Zulu said other speakers will be announced once the list has been finalised but confirmed that all the late king's children including King Misuzulu will be invited.
“Mchunu will be one of the speakers since he had a good relationship with uMdlokombane, which is the late king's nickname,” said Zulu.
The king was the longest reigning Zulu monarch having been installed in 1971 and bowed in March 2021.
He left behind his six wives, Queen Sibongile Dlamini of Khethomthandayo Palace as the first wife, second wife is Queen Buhle Mathe from KwaDlamahlahla Palace, the late Queen Mantfombi Dlamini (Swati) from KwaKhangelamankengane Palace. Queen Mantfombi who was King Misuzulu’s mother died in April 2021.
Queen Thandekile Ndlovu from Linduzulu Palace is the fourth wife, Queen Nompumelelo Mchiza from Enyokeni Palace and Queen Zola Mafu (Swati) from Ulundi Palace.
The king also left behind more than 20 children.
WhatsApp your views on this story at 071 485 7995.
Daily News