Self-imposed Ndebele King Peter Zwide Khumalo has approached the Bulawayo High Court seeking an interdict to stop the crowning of Bulelani Lobengula Khumalo as the new monarch.

In an urgent chamber application filed on Wednesday Zwide cited the crown council chairperson Chief Mathema as the first respondent, the Royal Crown Trust as second respondent and Bulelani Collen Lobengula Khumalo as the third respondent.

Zwide is represented by Ncube Attorneys.

The coronation ceremony which was meant to be held at Babourfields Stadium this Saturday had already hit a brick wall after government banned the event from going ahead.

“I have learnt with great shock that the respondents have proceeded with their nefarious unlawful scheme to engage in a process of installing Bulelani Khumalo as King of the Ndebele people to my prejudice as I am heir to such position,” wrote Zwide.

“I have a reasonable apprehension that the respondents will seek to proceed with the unlawful process that they have embarked on to my absolute prejudice as well those people falling within my jurisdiction”.

Zwide said the royal Nyamande household were the rightful heir to the throne.

“In or about November 1893 King Lobengula, the Ndebele Monarch, was overthrown by the British proxy army, the British South Africa Police.

‘In or about 21st June 1896 and at Entumbane, Mhlahlandlela, Lobengula`s son Nyamande was coronated King of the Ndebele people,” said Zwide.

“No-one succeeded King Nyamande and the Ndebele people remained without a king for a long time.”

The respondents have 14 days to lodge an appeal.