KwaZulu-Natal's ancestral burial ground of the early Zulu kings is receiving a multi-million rand facelift which will put it in a position to attract scores of local and international tourists.

Premier Sbu Ndebele on Sunday took journalists to site of the 19th century royal homestead of King Dingane in the eMakhosini Valley of the Kings in Ulundi where a state of the art multi-media centre is being constructed at the tune of R33 million.

"We are building the centre because we believe that the story of the Zulu people must be told. It will be able to draw scores of people from any part of the world," Ndebele said the centre would make centuries of Zulu history easily accessible.

The centre would include a magnificent conference centre, a restaurant, viewing tower and an amphitheatre, Zulu kings such as Ndaba and Jama lived and were buried at Makhosini valley.

"The aim of the centre is to conserve ancestral burial places, historical battlefields and other sites historical and cultural significance," said Ndebele.

He said the centre was ideally placed to develop a large vibrant tourist industry.

The centre is also situated just a stone's throw away from the grave of Piet Retief, a Boer leader who was killed by king Dingane in February 1838.

Retief's seventy supporters were also killed during the war.

Famous King Shaka was also born in the eMakhosini valley in 1795.

"The media centre is one of projects that the province has undertaken in the past few years to preserve our heritage. We hope to officially open it in April," said Ndebele.

Source: Sapa