Capped, Queen Mandlovu, hailed as a beacon of hope for Zulu women

THE Zulu royal family has hailed Queen Thandekile Ndlovu-Zulu's graduation as a big inspiration to the Zulu nation.

- WILLEM PHUNGULA

The queen, commonly known by her maiden clan name Mandlovu, is the fourth wife of the late king Zwelithini kaBhekuzulu. She was conferred with a Doctor of Business Administration degree by the University of KwaZulu-Natal during the spring graduation ceremony on yesterday.

The queen comes from Linduzulu royal palace in Nongoma in the north of the province and she was accompanied by the reigning king Misuzulu kaZwelithini, who also stood beside her as she received her qualification.

Speaking on behalf of the king and the Zulu nation, Prince Thulani Zulu hailed the queen and said her graduation particularly, at her age, would inspire young and old women to take education seriously. He said that the message she has sent to women, particularly of the Zulu nation, was that one's age does not need to be a barrier to education.