Nomcebo Zuma, the 21-year-old daughter of South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma, is set to marry Eswatini’s King Mswati III in what is being described as a marriage based on love rather than political alliance. This was confirmed by Alpheous Nxumalo, a spokesperson for Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarchy.
The engagement was made official during the country’s traditional Umhlanga, or reed dance, which is an annual rite of passage for young women. The ceremony, which lasts for eight days, concluded with Zuma being presented as the “liphovela,” meaning royal fiancée in Swati.
King Mswati III, who is 56 years old, is currently married to 11 wives and has been in a polygamous marriage arrangement for decades, having married 15 women in total. Despite the significant age gap between the couple, Nxumalo emphasized that the relationship is rooted in love. “Love has no eyes to see or count age,” he said. “It happens between two people, regardless of age or political status.”
Family Connections and Background
Jacob Zuma, South Africa’s president from 2009 to 2018, shares a familial connection with King Mswati III through previous marriages. While this has sparked speculation that the union could be politically motivated, Nxumalo insisted the marriage has no political implications. Both Zuma and Mswati come from influential families steeped in traditional beliefs, and their cultural practices often attract media attention.
The Eswatini monarch has been the subject of controversy for decades. His polygamous lifestyle has drawn criticism, especially given the poverty levels in Eswatini. Critics argue that while the king and his wives live in luxury, many citizens in the country suffer from extreme poverty. Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, has a population of around 1.1 million and one of the world’s highest rates of HIV/AIDS infections.