Written by: Pearl Kupe
It was just over one year ago, on Tuesday 18 February, 2020 at around 10am that I received a call requesting me to fly to Durban and meet with King Goodwill Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu. I was not alone on this endeavor, but was with close friends and fellow Christian Leaders Fellowship members, u Tata Michael Cassidy and his wife Carol. Dr. Robin Stephenson and his wife Jacqui and Theuns Pauw from African Enterprise.
We wanted to meet with King Zwelithini because he had demonstrated a fierce resistance to the roll out of CSE, the comprehensive sexuality education program sponsored by UNESCO in partnership with the SA department of education. The mission was seek his support for the roll out of an alternative program we wanted to roll out in partnership with Focus on the Family.
That evening we had the privilege of dining with His Majesty and his wife Queen Nompumelelo and sharing with them the damaging effects of CSE (Comprehensive Sex Education) . We also shared with them the details of the FSE program we were offering as an alternative. King Zwelithini was effusive in his support of the programme. His view was that CSE was in direct contrast with African values and he pledged to only support programs like FSE which supported traditional African values. He agreed wholeheartedly with President Paul Kagame’s statement that stated that Africa needed African solutions!
To show his seriousness for the support of the FSE program King Zwelithini alluded to it in his address at the opening of the KZN legislature in 2020.
His Majesty invited us for a follow up prayer meeting in KZN which could not be held because of the lockdown regulations.
This morning on Friday we received the sorrowful news of his passing from Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, MP and Inkosi of the Buthelezi clan and traditional Prime Minister to the Zulu Monarch and Nation.
This brief tribute is to thank you Your Majesty for the uncompromising stance you took with regard to CSE. You were defiant in your opposition to it and determined to stand on our Ubuntu and African values concerning this matter.
We salute Your Majesty even as we say Ingonyama ikhotheme!
SITHI BAYEDE !
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Date published: 12/03/2021
Feature image: Left To Right – Theuns Pauw, Pearl Kupe, Carol & Michael Cassidy, King Zwelithini & Queen Nompumemlo, and Jacqui & Robin Stephenson
Dr Pearl Kupe is an attorney and an international consultant to world leaders and international organisations. She is the international president of the Global Forum for Women Entrepreneurs. Email pearl.kupe@gmail.com or follow her Facebook page, Kingdom Transformer Pearl Kupe
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