Abathembu Royal Family King, Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo, didn’t receive an official invitation invitation to attend the British Queen’s funeral. l SIPHIWE SIBEKO
Durban - The Abathembu Royal Kingdom has expressed mixed emotions on the death of Queen Elizabeth.
While there would be no one from the Abathembu Kingdom attending her funeral, Prince Langalibalele Mthunzi Ngonyama, spokesperson for King Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo, said they wished for peace to prevail.
“The current king has never met the queen. However, there was once a visit to the British Kingdom by our late King Dalindyebo during the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902.
“The current King of the Abathembu nation, Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo, feels the great loss of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth ll, even whilst we are still colonised from the 18th century to this period (21st century) under the current dispensation. “Being colonised changed our lives in many harmful ways,” said Ngonyama.
Ngonyama said the wounds of African kings were still bleeding. “From being leaders of nations that had clear areas of jurisdiction and authority to decide on our affairs, to being servants of the British Emperor, left many African nations headless. Through it all, though, the God that we serve won’t allow us to keep grudges beyond death,” said Ngonyama.
Meanwhile, the Eswatini Royal Family will be attending the late Queen Elizabeth ll funeral, the Royal spokesperson Percy Simelane confirmed.
Simelane said the Deputy Prime Minister, Senator Themba Masuku will be representing the King at the State funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
He said the King of Eswatini has always had a close relationship with the late Queen.
“There has always been a very warm association between the late Queen and the Eswatini Royal Family spanning years since her visit to Eswatini with her father King George in 1947.
Her eldest son King Charles III too visited Eswatini in the late 80s. The warm relations included visits by the King to Buckingham Palace,” said Simelane.
SUNDAY TRIBUNE
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