Nomcebo Zuma, the 21-year-old daughter of South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma, is set to marry King Mswati III of Eswatini for love, according to a spokesperson from the kingdom.
As reported by BBC, her engagement was made official during the reed dance ceremony, an eight-day traditional event for young women and girls.
The 56-year-old King Mswati III, who already has 11 wives and has been married 15 times, made Nomcebo his royal fiancée, or “liphovela,” during the ceremony.
Despite criticism that this marriage could be politically motivated, the kingdom’s spokesperson emphasized that love, not politics, is behind this union. According to the BBC, the spokesperson explained that love doesn’t consider age, highlighting that love can happen between anyone, regardless of age differences.
Nomcebo’s father, Jacob Zuma, who was South Africa’s president from 2009 to 2018, is already related to King Mswati through marriage.
Though Zuma resigned amid corruption allegations, he is currently making a political comeback, with his new party recently placing third in South Africa’s general elections.
The BBC also notes that Zuma is well-respected for his Zulu cultural beliefs, and he himself has several wives and many children.
King Mswati III, who has ruled for 38 years, has faced criticism for living in luxury while many in Eswatini struggle with poverty, according to BBC reports.
The king has also been scrutinized for the young ages of some of his brides. However, despite these controversies, the traditional ties between Eswatini and South Africa’s Zulu monarchy remain strong.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgedv0ej0eeo