Nomcebo Zuma, the 21-year-old daughter of South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma, is marrying King Mswati III of Eswatini for love, according to a spokesperson for the monarchy. The engagement was confirmed after the reed dance ceremony, a traditional event for young women and girls. King Mswati, 56, who has 11 current wives and has been married 15 times, dismissed speculation that the union is politically motivated.
“Love has no eyes to see or count age,” Eswatini spokesman Alpheous Nxumalo said, refuting claims of a political alliance.
Critics of King Mswati, who has ruled by decree for 38 years, accuse him of living in luxury amid widespread poverty in Eswatini, which has a population of 1.1 million and high HIV/Aids rates. The monarch has also faced criticism for his treatment of opponents and the age of some of his brides.
Nomcebo, whose mother is Zuma’s long-time fiancée Nonkululeko Mhlongo, was presented as the “liphovela” or royal fiancée at the Ludzidzini Royal Palace during the ceremony.
Jacob Zuma, who served as South Africa’s president from 2009 to 2018, has strong ties to Eswatini’s monarchy and is currently experiencing a political resurgence with his new party, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), which placed third in the recent South African elections. Zuma, 82, has faced legal battles over corruption allegations but remains respected among his supporters for his cultural and traditional Zulu beliefs.
