The 21-year-old daughter of South Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma is marrying the Eswatini king for love, a spokesman for Africa’s last remaining absolute monarchy has told the BBC.
Nomcebo Zuma’s engagement to King Mswati III was made official earlier this week at the end of the eight-day reed dance ceremony – a traditional rite of passage for young women and girls held every year.
The 56-year-old monarch is currently in a polygamous arrangement with 11 wives – and has been married 15 times in total.
Eswatini spokesman Alpheous Nxumalo dismissed the suggestion that the marriage would be a political alliance.
