Ndebele "King" Plans March On State House
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Self-styled Ndebele King, Mzilikazi II, real name Stanley Raphael Khumalo, has notified President Emmerson Mnangagwa of his intentions to take over State House in Bulawayo.
In a letter dated 12 May directed to Mnangagwa, which he said he submitted through the Zimbabwean embassy in South Africa, Khumalo said he will lead “his” people who are based in South Africa back home.
Khumalo said the Bulawayo State House does not belong to Mashonaland (Zimbabwe) but to his country which he calls Mthwakazi. The letter read:
It is, therefore, announced that his Royal Mzilikazi II shall be leading a peaceful, but massive crusade of his people suffering in South Africa back to their home country, Mthwakazi.
The crusade shall start from Johannesburg on May 28 and arrive in Bulawayo the following day.
His majesty shall address the nation in the newly-revived, free and independent State of Mthwakazi on May 29.
His Royal Majesty shall thereafter move into the State House in Bulawayo on the same day as his official residence and begin to rule over his kingdom.
Khumalo has previously tried to take over State House but was blocked by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). The letter said:
The territory, 10km east of the Jameson line as described, which territory is legally a part of the Royal Kingdom of Mthwakazi, shall become the boundary of the independent state of Mashonaland, alias Zimbabwe.
Please note Mr President, the Ndebele people are not unaware of your brutality and your lack of respect for Ndebele life with your government, your security personnel and with the help of the quiet diplomacy of the British government.
Contacted for comment on Wednesday by NewsDay, Zimbabwe’s ambassador to South Africa, David Hamadziripi said he had not yet received the letter.
Meanwhile, Khumalo is not the only claimant to the Ndebele Kingdom. There are other claimants too, Messrs Bulelani Collins Khumalo and Peter Zwide Khumalo who are both based in South Africa.