Alain St. Ange and African Tourism Board (ATB) Mourn Exit of Longest Ruling Zulu Monarch, King Zweli

President of the African Tourism Board, Alain St. Ange of Seychelles, has expressed his “sincere sympathy to the Government and People of South Africa” over the passing of His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini of Zulu Kingdom.

“I had the honor and pleasure of meeting His Majesty and remember so vividly that memorable meeting” recalled St. Ange, a leading tourism expert and presidential candidate in the last Seychelles elections of October 2020.

His Majesty King Zwelithini, the longest-serving Zulu monarch in history, reigned for more than five decades. The beloved monarch of South Africa’s Zulu Kingdom died at the age 72, early this morning, Friday March 12, 2021 as confirmed by Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi in a statement.

He was admitted to an intensive care unit for diabetes treatment in the eastern province KwaZulu-Natal last month, according to local media.

African Tourism Board Chairman, Cuthbert Ncube informed ATB this morning via a statement in an urgent WhatsApp message.

“Dear Colleague’s it is with great pain and heavy to announce the passing away of our Father and King.

King Goodwill Zwelithini the King of the Zulus this morning. May we remember the Family in our prayers. His Daughter is part of the African Tourism Board (ATB) Family and has been requested to work with the Hon. Minister of Eswatini torwards the action program for the 2020 Cultural event.

There are 12.1 million Zulus living in seven countries, mainly in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The dominant religion is Christianity. Zulus are the largest ethnic group in South Africa, with small populations in Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Botswana, Malawi, Lesotho, and Mozambique. Zulu is a Bantu language.

The Zulu Kingdom, sometimes referred to as the Zulu Empire or the Kingdom of Zululand, was a monarchy in Southern Africa that extended along the coast of the Indian Ocean from the Tugela River in the south to Pongola River in the north.

The kingdom grew to dominate much of what is today KwaZulu-Natal and Southern Africa.