You are here: HomeAfricaBBC2024 09 05Article 1949303

BBC Pidgin of Thursday, 5 September 2024

Source: BBC

Former President Zuma 21-year-old daughter marry Eswatini king 'for love' as wife number 12

Eswatini king (L), Nomcebo Zuma and Jacob Zumah Eswatini king (L), Nomcebo Zuma and Jacob Zumah

Di 21-year-old daughter of South Africa former President, Jacob Zuma, dey marry Eswatini king for love. Na so di tok tok pesin for Africa only remaining absolute monarchy tell BBC.

Nomcebo Zuma engagement to King Mswati III become official earlier dis week afta di eight-day reed dance ceremony – dat na di traditional rite of passage wey dem dey do for every year for young women.

Di polygamous 56-year-old King currently dey married to 11 wives - and im bin don marry 15 times in total.

Eswatini tok-tok pesin Alpheous Nxumalo dismiss suggestion say di marriage na political alliance.

"Love no get eyes to see or dey count age. Love dey happun between two pipo. E fit happun between one pesin wey dey 100 years old and pesin wey dey above di average of wetin dey permitted constitutionally," e tell BBC Newsday programme.

Already, Zuma, wey be president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018, and King Mswati be relatives through marriage.

Pipo don accuse King Mswati, wey dey rule by decree and don sidon for throne for 38 years, of living in luxury wit im polygamous household - while most of im pipo dey suffer in poverty.

Eswatini, wey dem bin sabi before as Swaziland, get population of 1.1 million citizens and na one of di world highest rates of HIV/Aids infection.

Strong traditional ties dey between Eswatini and South Africa Zulu King - di current king, Misuzulu ka Zwelithini, na Mswati III nephew.

Zuma, wey bin resign in disgrace ova corruption allegations during im presidency and e still dey face court case for one 1999 arms deal (e say im no do anytin) currently dey enjoy political renaissance.

Di 82-year-old dey enjoy serious respect from im supporters for upholding im cultural and traditional Zulu beliefs - e get many wives and di believe be say e get 20 children.

Nomcebo, wey her mama na Zuma long-standing fiancée Nonkululeko Mhlongo, bin dress in di bright colours of Eswatini kingdom on di last day of di reed dance ceremony for di Ludzidzini Royal Palace on Monday.

Di purpose of di rite of passage wey dem dey call Umhlanga ceremony, na to discourage dem from from becoming sexually active at young age.

Di king dey allowed to choose bride from di participants - and for dis occasion dem present Miss Zuma as "liphovela", wey mean royal fiancée in Swati.

Pipo don dey criticise di King before over di age of im brides.

For 2005, im bin choose one17 years old Phindile Nkambue as wife few days afta im cancel one ban on sexual relations for girls younger dan 18.

Just two months afta dem originally impose di law for 2001 - to help fight HIV/Aids – im fine imsef wit one cow for breaking di ban, sake of say im marry one 17-year-old as im number nine wife.