Zulu King, His Majesty MisuZulu Ka Zwelithini is scheduled to bring a 300-strong delegation at this year’s Umthetho Cultural Festival scheduled for July 31 to August 3 at Hora Heritage Centre in Mzimba.
The entourage from KwaZulu Natal will comprise amakhosi, izinduna, members of the royal family and senior South African government officials.
Speaking in an interview with The Nation on Tuesday, Mzimba Heritage Association (Mziha) secretary general Kingsley Jere said they have increased the festival’s budget from K75 million to K156 million due to the high number of people who will accompany the Zulu King.
He said the 300-member entourage alone from KwaZulu Natal will mean a significant increase in resources such as food and accommodation.
Said Jere: “Things are advancing each hour as we draw close to the festival events. Over the weekend, we received an advance team from South Africa led by MisuZulu’s sister Princess Ntandoyeningi Zulu Cwele who visited us to assess the atmosphere ahead of the king’s visit.
“We have been told that they are coming with the entourage of 300, the number we did not anticipate at first. We have no option but to increase the budget to accommodate a high number of guests coming from South Africa.”
This year’s festival, according to Jere, is a special one because it will be a double celebration.
“As we celebrate our culture and diversity, this year also marks His Royal Majesty Inkosi Ya Makhosi M’mbelwa V’s 10th anniversary on the throne,” he said.
Meanwhile, former vice-president Khumbo Kachali, who is also Freedom Party president, has donated K1 million and one cow towards the festival.
On his part, Inkosi Ya Makhosi M’Mbelwa V said the visit by the Zulu King from Kwazulu Natal will not only be historical, but will also strengthen the longstanding ties between the two Kingdoms.
“We look forward to the great day to host his majesty the king of the Zulu nation. So, don’t miss out,” he said.
The festival will be celebrated under the theme ‘Being united to fight climate change’.
Mziha, whose aim is to preserve and promote the heritage of the Ngoni Jere of Mzimba, was founded in the year 2000 and has been organising the Umthetho Cultural Festival at Hora since 2007.
Apart from Umthetho, other top annual cultural festivals in the country include Khulubvi Arts and Cultural Festival, Umhlangano wa Maseko, Muhlakho wa Alhomwe, Chiwanja cha Ayao and Gonapamuhanya.
