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CULTURAL experts agree that divorce is not part of the Zulu culture.
This comes after South Africa’s King Misuzulu filed for divorce in the Pietermaritzburg High Court.In the court papers, seen by the Daily Sun.
The king seeks to divorce one on of his three wives and offers R20 000 monthly maintenance for a year.
Daily Sun won’t name the wife to protect her kids.
The court papers continue to state that the marriage had reached such a state of disintegration that no reasonable prospect exists for the restoration of a normal marriage.
King Misuzulu is the first monarch to file for divorce in the Zulu kingdom’s 209-year history.
There’s been debate on whether, or not, divorce is allowed in Zulu culture. Many stated it’s not. However, it seems there’s doubt as King Misuzulu, who is regarded as the custodian of Zulu culture, has filed for divorce.
Cultural expert, Professor Sihawukele Ngubane from the University of KZN told Daily Sun there’s no divorce in the Zulu culture.
He said:“In the Zulu tradition, it is called ukwenda (die) when a woman gets married, meaning there is no turning back and she will die where she is married. In Zulu culture, marriage is not only about the two who are married, but is also about their two families and ancestors.”
Ngubane said when the married couple fails to resolve their issues, then their families intervene to resolve them.
“If the wife makes mistakes, she’ll be sent back home to get advice for about a month and come back. If there’s a big mistake, she’ll be sent back to her home and come back with an animal (a goat or a cow) to pay for the damage.
“There’s no divorce even if she cheats and has a child out of marriage. She stays on the premises even if she and her husband don’t see each other because she belongs where she’s married,” he said.
Another expert, Prof Gugu Mazibuko from University of Joburg also said there’s no divorce in the Zulu culture.
“Zulu royal family elders can still play a big role in resolving this without the court because when problems start in the Zulu culture, those who led lobola negotiations (abakhongi) and elders from both families should come together and resolve the matter.
“If the marriage is beyond repair, the wife continues to stay on the same premises even if she doesn’t sleep with her husband. Many people, who are not close, won’t recognise there are changes,” she said.
She said although there’s no divorce in the Zulu culture, many things have changed, and people mustn’t expect the king not to move with the times. (Dailysun.co.za)
Online Reporter