Zimpapers Logo

Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Correspondent
THE Khumalos, descendants of the Ndebele kingdom, have dismissed as misguided and fake, a man from Bulawayo claiming to be King Mzilikazi II, as he does not have royal blood.

Mr Stanley Tshuma has allegedly been sending social media messages inviting people of “Mthwakazi” to come and witness his alleged coronation today at Inxwala ground near Amakhosi Cultural Centre.

Mr Tshuma alleges that the spirit of King Mzilikazi has possessed him and he should be the next Ndebele King.

King Lobengula Royal Family’s Trust spokesperson Prince Zwide Khumalo yesterday said they had told Mr Tshuma to stop misleading people.

He said the Ndebele monarch must be revived, but people with no royal blood must not claim the throne.

“Normally, the heir would have traceable lineage within the royal family born also of a mother of royal origin. It is anathema to go around claiming heir-ship to the throne. It is a transgression to do so when your lineage is very difficult to comprehend,” said Mr Khumalo.

The Ndebele Kingdom ceased to exist after the death of King Lobengula when the country was colonised but talks of its revival are gathering momentum.

Mthwakazi “Ka” Mzilikazi Cultural Association executive coordinator Rodgers Mthethwa said Mr Tshuma should stop fantasising as the Ndebele Kingdom was a big institution to be denigrated by an individual.

“Currently, social media is awash with a profile of Stanley Tshuma who fails totally in his profile to tell the nation how after being born of a Tshuma father and a Dube mother at Nyamandlovu Hospital he suddenly becomes a descendent of Hlangabeza Khumalo,” said Mr Mthethwa.

He said there are people who have made similar false claims before.

“All these people claim to be guided by some spiritual visions. The monarch institution of the Ndebele nation is too magnanimous and deserves to be respected. The claims of heir-ship based on some spiritual visions are dreams and an insult to people with culture and social order,” he said.

Efforts to get a comment from Mr Tshuma were fruitless.

Last month, a self-proclaimed traditional healer from Hope Fountain on the outskirts broke into Old Bulawayo Museum and stole King Lobengula’s gold coated spear claiming that he was acting on spiritual guidance from his ancestors .

Bongani Mahlobo (33) claimed that the spirit of King Lobengula had urged him to “take” the spear for safe keeping.

He was arrested and brought before the courts with the presiding magistrate remanding him in prison pending a mental examination.