By Celani Sikhakhane
Despite former president Jacob Zuma’s disapproval of his daughter’s marriage to King Mswati III as Queen number 16, his wife is in full support of the monarch’s union.
This was witnessed over the weekend when Nonkululeko maMhlongo-Zuma attended the engagement of her daughter Nomcebo, 21, and King Mswati III, 56, as an official girlfriend to Africa’s last absolute monarch at the Swatini Reed Dance at Ludzidzini Royal Palace.
MaMhlongo is said to have been happy since the day when King Mswati III’s delegation arrived in Nkandla in July to pay the lobola – reported to be R2-million cash and 100 head of cattle.
The delegation was made up of Chief Mgwagwa Gamedze, the king’s executive officer; Prince Hlangabeza Dlamini and Qethuka Sigombeni Dlamini, the king’s emissaries; Prince Vanana of KwaMinyamanzi and Prince Simphiwe.
On the weekend King Mswati III crowned Nomcebo with the feather of a purple-crested turaco, which is the national bird of eSwatini, and is also called Ligwalagwala.
The crowning was carried out in front of thousands of Swati maidens and Nomcebo’s mother.
A source told Scrolla.Africa that maMhlongo was very happy to see her youngest daughter being officially declared as the liphovela, which means the royal fiancée.
“It was a celebration mood when His Majesty crowned Nomcebo with the feather of the purple-crested turaco.
“Former president Zuma was not there since he is said to be very angry about the whole thing. But MaMhlongo, who is the mother of the child, was very supportive and happy,” the source said.
It is also understood that the Zulu maidens from Nkandla and Newcastle came in numbers to support Zuma’s daughter.
Nomcebo is a third-year university student but has been taking a break from studies to focus on her upcoming wedding with the king of eSwatini.
This is not the first time the Zuma family has made a union with the Swatis.
Zuma’s nephew Khulubuse Zuma is married to a Swati woman.
Zuma himself was once married to Mina Shongwe from eSwatini, who is the mother of Edward Zuma.
Nomcebo has also made her official appearance in the royal family with the attire of her father’s political party Umkhonto Wesizwe.
Pictured above: King Mswati III’s royal fiancée, Nomcebo Zuma, and her father Jacob Zuma.
Source: X/Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla
