The king of Buthelezi, Zuzifa ka Mangosuthu Buthelezi, is opening a shopping mall named after the king who gave birth to it, Mangosuthu ka Mathola Buthelezi.
King Zuzifa said the opening of the mall made him wonder how the king would feel if he was still there?
The shopping center in Mpangeni was opened yesterday.
“I felt pain when I saw it complete. I was filled with bitterness, I felt small tears come to my eyes. I wondered what the Prince would have said if he had come in here with him, when he saw the shopping center with his name on it.”
The king after whom the mall is named was the prime minister of Zulu and the founder of the IFP. King Zuzifa said they were happy that their father was honored in this way.
“Today, we are still young. Even young children will ask who the shopping center is named after, and we will explain to them.”
The king said he wished the mall would develop the local people.
“I want the plants to be sold here to be bought from the local people. We want to see tubers, sweet potatoes and other things grown by the local people brought in trucks to be sold here. I’m not just saying this because I’m entertaining, but I’m saying this because I know that this matter was in Mntwana’s heart. I challenge the Ministry of Agriculture to support the local farmers.”
The chairman of the non-profit organization named after the King of Buthelezi, the Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi Foundation, Mr. Velenkosini Hlabisa, said that the opening of the mall has created job opportunities for more than 1,000 people who have been employed.
“Those who got job opportunities will now be able to build houses of their choice. They will not remain unattractive but they will do what they like. That is why we applaud you for this because the belief of the Prince of KwaPhindangene was that people are given opportunities to do things for themselves.”
Hlabisa said the opening of the mall will also benefit taxi drivers and street vendors.
The Mayor of Mhlathuze Municipality, Mr. Xolani Ngwezi, said that there are many other development projects coming to the council.
He said there are plans to build an airport, a hotel, a shopping mall and a mine.
“This will create more jobs.”
Members of the MKP-affiliated organization, the Labor and Civic Organisation, were protesting when the mall was opened, complaining that there was unfairness in the recruitment of those who will work at the mall.