South Africa’s former president Jacob Zuma’s 21-year-old daughter is marrying the King of Eswatini for love, a spokesman for Africa’s last absolute monarchy has told the BBC.
The engagement of Nomcebo Zuma to King Mswati III was made official earlier this week, following the eight-day Reed Dance ceremony, a traditional rite of passage for young women and girls that takes place every year.
Mr Zuma, who was President of South Africa from 2009 to 2018, and King Mswati are already related by marriage.
King Mswati, who rules by decree and has been on the throne for 38 years, is accused by critics of living in luxury with his polygamous household, while most of his people languish in poverty.
Zuma, who resigned in disgrace following allegations of corruption during his presidency and is still the subject of legal proceedings over a 1999 arms deal, is currently enjoying a political renaissance.his new party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), came third in South Africa’s general election this year.aged 82, he is also highly respected by his supporters for his Zulu cultural and traditional beliefs.
Among the participants, the King is allowed to choose a wife, and on this occasion Mrs Zuma was introduced as the ‘liphovela’, which means royal bride in Swati.
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Historically, the King has faced scrutiny over the age of his wives. In 2005, he chose 17-year-old Phindile Nkambule as his wife, just days after cancelling the ban on sexual relations for girls under the age of 18.
Two months after the ban was imposed in 2001 – to combat HIV/AIDS – he had fined himself one cow for breaking the ban by marrying a 17-year-old girl for the ninth time.
