It is named after Cetshwayo kaMpande, King of the Zulu Kingdom from 1872 to 1879, who led his nation to victory against the British in the Battle of Isandlwana.

The joining of the two cities was largely enacted from legislation in Wisconsin in collaboration with the Africa Urban Poverty Alleviation Program.

In 2009, Sister Cities International launched the Africa Urban Poverty Alleviation Program, a three-year project to alleviate poverty in 25 African cities (including King Cetshwayo District) through water, sanitation and health initiatives.

Milwaukee will collaborate with their African counterparts to identify and address the most critical problems in these sectors, which form barriers to sustained development in urban areas.

This project is funded by a $7.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.