WATCH: Chaos as Prince Misuzulu announced preferred AmaZulu king

Commotion and chaos ensued at the KwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace in KwaNongoma on Friday night where the late Queen Mantfombi Dlamini-Zulu’s will was read. Dlamini-Zulu named his eldest son, Prince Misuzulu Zulu as the preferred successor to the throne.

Zulu had be whisked away from the Royal House shortly after the announcement was made. He was escorted by police and body guards.

CHAOS AS PRINCE MISUZULU NAMED SUCCESSOR

The drama and chaos came as no surprise. Certain members of the Zulu Royal Family were holding impromptu press conferences, shortly after the Dlamini-Zulu’s passing, some were holding separate meetings and others were challenging in court the late King Zwelithini’s will.

The late King’s praise singer, Buzetsheni Mdletshe, said that what happened on Friday night is a norm in the monarchy.

“Whenever a new king is chosen, it is very seldom that they are welcomed or embraced by everyone. This is not a beauty contest! No king has ever taken over the throne smoothly. The same thing happened with the late Prince Misuzulu’s father, his grandfathers and those before him, eventually people embraced them, especially members of the Zulu Royal Family,” Mdletshe said.

In her will, the late 65-year-old Queen left her KwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace to all her children and their descendants. Her savings in various policies, assets and bank accounts were also shared equally, among all her children.

IS HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF?

Is history repeating itself when it comes to succession in the Zulu monarch? Following the passing of his father King Cyprian Bhekuzulu in 1968, 20-year-old King Zwelithini he was named successor to the throne at the time. However, he did not ascend until 1971 as he was forced into hiding outside of his realm for three years following threats of assassination.

In 2016 during an interview with Yehia Ghanem from the international news network Al Jazeera, Zwelithini recounted the period when his life was in the crosshairs.

“The threats came just after my 21st birthday when I was about to have a cleansing following the passing of my late father. We gained the information about the threats, then one of my elder sisters and brother-in-law secured my safety and I had to leave my kingdom, the province of KwaZulu-Natal. I remained in the country, but in other provinces, somewhere in the Transvaal,” he said.

Upon his return to the province to claim his birthright he was crowned king on December 3, 1971.  The late 65-year-old Queen left her KwaKhangelamankengane Royal Palace to all her children and their descendants.Her savings in various policies, assets and bank accounts were also shared equally, among all her children.