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The strange idea of southern KZN being an independent kingdom...

You know, since 2017, I've been exposed to quiet a few independence movements... but southern KZN Independence makes the least sense. Apparently, two kings have proposed this; the Hlubi king (King Langalibalele Mthimkhulu III) & Nhlangwane king (King Melizwe Dlamini). Both kings sought to claim the territory between Thukela River in KwaZulu-Natal & Umzimvubu River in the Eastern Cape. This is the same territory that the Voortrekkers asked from King Dingane & known as the southern most extent of the Zulu Empire since 1828. Their theory goes; Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi falsely suggested the name KwaZulu-Natal for the province as, they claim, the entire region was not ruled by the Zulu king. They say all this while speaking Zulu & being blood relatives of the Zulu Royal Family. The Nhlangwini king claimed the region should be named Natal while the Hlubi king claims the region should be called Embo (after the ancient culture that existed before Nguni & Zulu rule). 

The said chiefdoms under Embo rule: AmaZizi, AmaHlubi, AmaNhlangwini, AmaNdzundza (AmaNtungwa, Khumalo, Mhlanga, Ndwandwe etc.), AmaBhaca (who fled to Mpondo territory), AmaLala (the Mthethwa & Zulu). All these would fall under Zulu rule by the middle of the 19th century. 

Southern KZN, even with the territory north of Umzimvubu River is small, & the majority of the people who live in this region still identify as Zulu & still speak (Ntungwa) Zulu with Xhosa, Mpondo & isiMbo being minority languages. Would they want Durban along with Pietermaritzburg (King Dingane's capital) to bolster southern KZN's economy? Durban, which is south of Thukela River being where Zulu regiments first spotted the British? 

The two kings further claim that they are kings on equal footing with the Zulu king & not the Zulu king's subjects, a matter which existed throughout King Zwelithini's reign where it was claimed "they fled" when the Zulu king wanted to meet them. 

To me, it does not make sense. It would be like if a regional chief in Eswatini challenged King Mswati III's rule & wanted their own kingdom. Unless, that breakaway kingdom is authorised by the king to be autonomous & has a very good plan how they'll govern their land - they will simply not be as big alone as when they were in the homogeneous union. And, were it ancient times, the small newly-independent chiefdom would again be "acquired" as subjects to the Swazi Royal Family. 

This secession idea makes less sense because when we read literature from the 1930s, before either King Langalibalele III & King Melizwe were born, Umzinto (Umuziwezinto) & areas further south were still written down to be under Zulu rule. With both King Dingane & King Shaka making incursions to Isandlundlu (Port Edward) & Umzimvubu River respectively. A few years ago Isilo (i. e. Emperor) Zwelithini planted a chief in the Ingeli (Harding) area which closes the book on any Zulu secessionists seceding from Zulu territory. 

P.S. It is very possible that these secessionists within Zulu territory could be used to destabilise the region. So if people hear of a secessionist movement within the region, it may be wise to find out what & who is really behind it or funding it.
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