Mswati Gets Zuma’s Daughter As 16th Wife

Nomcebo Zuma, the 21-year-old daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma, has recently become the sixteenth wife of King Mswati III of Eswatini.

However, this union has ignited controversy and raised fears for Nomcebo’s safety with
security measures being heightened around Nomcebo due to intense mobilization against the arrangement.

Southern African media reports indicate that the ordinary Swatis accuse King Mswati of enriching the Zuma family while neglecting the needs of his own people.

The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), a vocal critic of King Mswati’s regime, denounces the marriage as an “unholy alliance.”

According to SSN spokesperson Lucky Lukhele, “the union exploits African customs for political and financial gain, rather than being rooted in love or cultural tradition” .

The intermarriage between the Zuma and Dlamini families has drawn criticism, bordering on incest and violating Nguni customs and taboos. The SSN also points to widespread WhatsApp messages threatening violence during Nomcebo’s public appearances.

Nomcebo’s first public appearance in Eswatini, at the opening of the Tibiyo Takangwane chicken project, was heavily guarded. King Mswati’s eagerness to welcome this “new pawn” reflects an alliance built on the subjugation and exploitation of women.

The situation remains tense, with Zuma’s withdrawal from lobolo negotiations and Nomcebo’s mother pushing for the deal.

King Mswati is expected to pay R2 million and 100 head of cattle as lobolo for Nomcebo, but concerns persist about her safety and the implications of this controversial union.