“Sengathi umoya weMbube, Ubhejane ephuma esiqiwini ungalala ngoxolo”.
South Africa mourns the death of His Majesty, King Goodwill Zwelithini KaBhekuzulu, King of the Zulu nation.
Zwelithithi passed away in the early hours of Friday, March 12.
Mzansi Agriculture Talk joins the country in mourning the untimely death of King Goodwill Zwelithini.
We remember his words when he said: “The issue of land is a very sensitive one for the Zulu people, as it is more than just about land. It is about food security, housing and political economy, among others, and it is for this reason that Zulus will not be pedestrians that will sit and watch while major decisions about their ancestral land are made.
The King’s affinity with agriculture and fighting for the rights of all Zulu farmers is well recorded. In 2015, under the severe drought gripping the country, he hosted a livestock auction specializing in the sale of the Boran breed.
More than this, he encouraged his people to participate in livestock auctions to change their mindsets and adopt agriculture as a business and a science.
He was the stole trustee of the Ingonyama Trust which is administered by the Ingonyama Trust Board, managing over 2,8 million hectares.
The Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development, Ms Thoko Didiza (MP), has also learnt with sadness the news of the passing of His Majesty, King Goodwill Zwelithini Ka Bhekuzulu, King of the Zulu Nation.
“Having learnt of the hospitalisation of His Majesty a few weeks back and regular updates that we have been getting about his health, I have been hopeful of his speedy recovery,” said Minister Didiza.
His Majesty was a sole trustee of the Ingonyama Trust, an entity of the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and he has always provided his vision for the Ingonyama Trust Board.
“We have worked very well with His Majesty on improving the operations of the Ingonyama Trust Board and subsequently improving the lives of his subjects,” remarked Minister Didiza.
“I wish to send my heartfelt and sincere condolences to the Royal family and the Zulu Nation. We continue to pray for your strength during this difficult time and may His Majesty rest in eternal peace”
“Sengathi umoya weMbube, Ubhejane ephuma esiqiwini ungalala ngoxolo”, concluded the minister.
Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi told the SABC on Friday morning that the body of Zulu monarch King Goodwill Zwelithini will lie in state at the royal palace in Nongoma, northern KwaZulu-Natal, for a few days while the nation mourns his passing.
Buthelezi said that while anyone would be able to pay their respects to the king, Covid-19 protocols would have to be adhered to as the death of His Majesty should not result in the death of anyone else.
The king’s funeral arrangements would be announced in due course.
