Friday 26 March 2021 – Pietermaritzburg
Address By – Hon. VF Hlabisa : Leader of the Official Opposition and President of the IFP
Mhlonishwa Somlomo, uNdunankulu wesifundazwe, amalunga eSishayamthetho, angikhuleke ngokukhethekile kwiNdlovukazi uGwabini, Indlovukazi uMantfombi LaDlamini Ibamba bukhosi bombuso kaZulu, Izindlovukazi zonke zeSilo, amazinyane eSilo, uNdunankulu kaZulu, uMntwana wakwaPhindangene neNdlunkulu yonke KaZulu eyinxenye yalolusuku lasihlonipha khona Isilo Samabandla. Angiqale ngokuphinda ngedlulise amazwi ethu ukulila ngililele Indlunkulu yonke ngokukhothama kweMbube. Phephisani nina beSilo siphinde sikhalele uMntwana waKwaPhindangene osebone lukhulu kukhothama Izilo phambi kwakhe.
Ngimi lapha nina beSilo, Egameni lamalunga eSishayamthetho saKwaZulu-Natali eQembu leNkatha YeNkululeko nasegameni lawo onke amalunga eQembu leNkatha YeNkululeko ukuba ngihloniphe Isilo esikhulu esihambile phakathi kwethu. Isilo ngesikhathi sihleli esihlalweni sihola isizwe sikaZulu, senze imisebenzi emikhulu engangezintaba eyohlala imile emlandweni weNingizimu ne-Africa kanye nase-Afrika uqobo.
Uma kwedlula emhlabeni umuntu omkhulu kuye kuthiwe, kuwe umuthi omkhulu. Ukukhothama kweSilo kungaphezu kokuwa komuthi omkhulu: kudilike intaba ebiyisisekelo sobukhosi bombuso waKwaZulu. Sonke singamalunga eSishayamthetho sithi idilikile intaba ebesenyukela kuyo uma sifuna ukubona kude. Luwile uphahla lwethu ebesithi noma singaboni ngaso linye kwezombusazwe kodwa sivumelana ukuthi sonke singabeSilo saMabandla.
His Majesty was an African. A Champion of African heritage, culture and values. His Majesty revived the ceremonies that restored the values of the Zulu nation and people of South Africa, across colour lines. The Reed Ceremony has become a National event. This Ceremony now attracts thousands of maidens across Provinces in South Africa. His Majesty, through the Reed Ceremony, played a critical role and became a Champion against the spread of HIV/Aids. It is His Majesty who reinstated male circumcision. Over a million young males have been circumcised, which helps to reduce chances of infection by HIV/Aids and saved lives.
His Majesty was a Champion in the protection of women and children against Gender-Based Violence & Femicide. His Majesty was a Champion of education, who advanced education during His reign of almost half a century. His Majesty was indeed a true Philanthropist.
His Majesty led His people with dignity, wisdom and compassion. He was the longest-serving Monarch of the Zulu nation, having reigned for almost fifty years. He led his people through the dark era of apartheid and, after we achieved democracy, His Majesty remained a Champion of the ongoing struggle for full liberation from the bonds of social and economic injustice.
His Majesty led by example as he called on the nation to return to subsistence farming, to produce food and to invest in agriculture. His Majesty was a Champion of the protection of the rights to land ownership by black people. His Majesty stood up unapologetically and spoke forthrightly for His Land and the land of His people, protected under the Ingonyama Trust Act. Under his leadership, every family in the Zulu Kingdom enjoyed the security of being able to access enough land on which to live and raise a family.
Indeed, His Majesty the King was the epitome of the traditional institution of leadership in our society. The departure of His Majesty has left a void in this House, in the Kingdom of the Zulu nation and in the traditional institution in South Africa.
His Majesty was a Champion of peace and tolerance. He believed in political co-existence and became a centre for all in the sphere of politics.
These accolades, and many more, speak of a national leader who served South Africa with distinction. May our country and the nation be comforted in the knowledge that His Majesty’s legacy will continue.
The IFP extends its support to the Regent, Her Majesty, Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu. Our prayers are with Her Majesty, and the Royal Family.
We pray for the Royal Family during this difficult time of mourning and yet at the same time in resolving the succession to the throne of the Zulu Monarchy. We pray that God helps the Royal Family, gives the members of the Royal Family the mental strength and wisdom to resolve and emerge a united Royal Family, to provide leadership to the Zulu kingdom and continue the legacy of His Majesty. We also pray that God gives Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi the health and wisdom to provide leadership to the Royal Family during this difficult time. We believe that Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi will tap into His knowledge and experience as He has seen other Kings of the Zulu nation leaving the throne but the succession to the throne eventually resolved accordingly.
THE IFP GRIEVES THE LOSS OF HIS MAJESTY THE KING.
Hamba kahle Mnguni Omnyama!!! Lala uphumule Silo esikhulu!!!
