Dharamshala — His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, expressed his sincere condolences to the family of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi and his many well-wishers in South Africa on his passing away on September 9, 2023. His Holiness expressed his gratitude for his support for the dignity and freedom of the Tibetan people.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama, upon hearing the sad news of the death of His Excellency Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi in South Africa on September 9, 2023, sent a letter to the family of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi to express his heartflet condolences on the death of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama wrote in the condolence letter, "I have had the honour of meeting him several times. He was a good friend to me and also to the Tibetan people. He lived a meaningful life till the age of 95."
"We remain grateful for the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s interest in and steadfast support for the dignity and freedom of our Tibetan people," the spiritual leader of Tibet wrote on September 10, 2023.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama concluded his message by once again praying for Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, the late Zulu leader.
Prince Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi was a South African politician and Zulu prince. Who was the longest-serving member of parliament. He was the traditional prime minister of the Zulu royal family from 1954 to 2023. He founded the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) in 1975, which he led until August 2019. He was a political leader during Nelson Mandela's incarceration (1964–1990) and continued to be so in the post-Apartheid era, when he was appointed by Mandela as Minister of Home Affairs, serving from 1994 to 2004.
Prince Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi has met His Holiness the Dalai Lama on several occasions and offered his best wishes on the occasion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's 86th birthday. He expressed his unwavering support for the dignity and freedom of the Tibetan people. In 2019, he met the former President of the Central Tibetan Administration, Dr Lobsang Sangay, in South Africa.
