Controversy Surrounds Eswatini King's Engagement to Zuma's Daughter, His 12th Wife

 

King Mswati at last year's reed dance 

Nomcebo Zuma, 21-year-old daughter of South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma, is set to marry Eswatini King Mswati III. The engagement was officially announced at the conclusion of the eight-day reed dance ceremony, a traditional rite of passage for young women.

Eswatini spokesman Alpheous Nxumalo dismissed speculation that the marriage was a strategic political alliance. "Love has no eyes to see or count age. Love happens between two people. It can happen between a person who is 100 years old and a person who is above the average of what is permitted constitutionally," Nxumalo told the BBC's Newsday programme.

King Mswati III, 56, is currently in a polygamous arrangement with 11 wives and has been married 15 times. Critics have accused the monarch of living lavishly while his people struggle with poverty. Eswatini, previously known as Swaziland, faces significant challenges, including one of the world's highest HIV/AIDS rates.

The reed dance ceremony, known as Umhlanga, aims to discourage young women from becoming sexually active. The king traditionally chooses a bride from the participants. This year, Nomcebo Zuma was presented as the "liphovela," or royal fiancée.

Nomcebo Zuma was named King Mswati III's royal fiancée, or "liphovela," at the reed dance ceremony.

Jacob Zuma and King Mswati III already share family ties through marriage. Zuma's newly formed party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), came third in South Africa's recent general election. The 82-year-old former president has multiple wives and approximately 20 children.

Nxumalo emphasized that Nomcebo and King Mswati's union is built on love. "It can happen between a person who is 100 years old and a person who is above the average of what is permitted constitutionally," he reiterated.

King Mswati III has faced criticism for his past choices of brides, including marrying 17-year-old Phindile Nkambule in 2005. He had previously imposed a ban on sexual relations for girls under 18 but rescinded it shortly after.

Eswatini's absolute monarchy has drawn scrutiny for its human rights record and treatment of opponents. The country's strong traditional ties with South Africa's Zulu monarchy were highlighted during the reed dance ceremony.

Nomcebo's mother, Nonkululeko Mhlongo, is Jacob Zuma's long-standing fiancée. The young bride-to-be wore vibrant Eswatini kingdom colors during the ceremony.

As Nomcebo prepares to join King Mswati's household, concerns surrounding the monarch's polygamous arrangements and age disparities with his brides continue to spark debate.

"Love has no eyes to see or count age," Nxumalo's words echo, but critics remain skeptical.