In a dramatic turn of events, former President Jacob Zuma walked out of lobola negotiations when eSwatini royals requested the hand of his 21-year-old daughter, Nomcebo, on behalf of King Mswati III, who is 56.
The negotiations, held at Zuma’s ancestral home in Nkandla, saw the eSwatini delegation, led by Chief Mgwagwa Gamedze and Prince Hlangabeza Dlamini, presenting their intentions. However, the request caught Zuma off guard, as King Mswati had previously expressed interest in Nomcebo for his son, not himself.
Witnesses described Zuma’s reaction as unprecedented. “I’ve never seen uNxamalala (Zuma) losing it like that. He tried to hide it, but you could tell that he was angry,” an insider shared. Zuma stood up abruptly, saying, “Seniyosala niqhubeka bafana bakithi” (You will have to carry on without me, my brothers), and left, leaving the delegation stunned.
King Mswati’s decision has also reportedly caused tension among his 15 wives, who believed there would be no new additions to the family.
An insider revealed that one of the king’s wives leaked the story, unhappy with his decision to take a new wife while neglecting his current ones.
Nomcebo has been spending considerable time in eSwatini, with immigration records indicating multiple visits since March. She is expected to be introduced as the king’s new liphovela (official girlfriend) during the annual reed dance in August.
If the marriage goes through, Nomcebo will become King Mswati’s 16th wife, with plans already in place to build her a royal palace in eMankanyane.
The eSwatini delegation left 10 cattle as a dowry for Nomcebo, marking the beginning of formal marriage negotiations. – Sunday World