The news of Nomcebo Zuma, the 21-year-old daughter of former South African president Jacob Zuma, becoming the sixteenth wife of King Mswati III of Eswatini has sparked outrage and fear for her safety.
Security has been beefed up around Nomcebo, with insiders revealing that there has been intense mobilisation against the arrangement, with ordinary Swatis accusing the king of enriching the Zuma family while neglecting the needs of his own people.
"Ordinary people are up in arms and accusing the king of being busy on his escapades using money belonging to poor Swatis and enriching the Zuma family," a police source told Sunday World, requesting anonymity for fear of victimisation.
The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), a vocal critic of King Mswati's regime, has called for a revolt against the "unholy alliance," labelling Nomcebo a pawn in a cynical manipulation of African customs for political and financial gain.
"The union is far from being about love or cultural tradition, instead it is rooted in a cynical manipulation of African customs for political and financial gain," said SSN spokesperson Lucky Lukhele.
"The repeated intermarrying between the Zuma and Dlamini families now borders on incest, violating Nguni customs and taboos, and exposing the depths to which these men will sink to secure their interests," Lukhele added.
The SSN has also expressed concern over the potential for violence, pointing to widespread Whatsapp messages threatening violence and calling for Nomcebo's public appearances to be disrupted.
"There were reports that her public appearance would lead to community riots because of the widely shared Whatsapp messages threatening violence and calling for the event to be stormed," said a source.
Nomcebo's first public appearance in Eswatini, at the official opening of the R50-million Tibiyo Takangwane chicken project on Monday, was heavily guarded, with King Mswati leaving nothing to chance.
"King Mswati, with his eager complicity, welcomed this new pawn, showcasing a sinister alliance built on the subjugation and exploitation of women for political and financial gain," said the SSN.
The controversial union has also sparked a bitter family feud, with Zuma walking out of the lobolo negotiations last month after discovering that the king's initial proposal to marry his son to Nomcebo had been changed to a request for Nomcebo herself.
"I’ve never seen unxamalala (Zuma) losing it like that. He tried to hide it, but you could tell he was angry. He just stood up and said seniyosala niqhubeka bafana bakithi (I won’t be a part of this, you will have to carry on without me, my brothers). He then left," an insider told Sunday World.
Despite Zuma's withdrawal, the negotiations have continued, with Nomcebo's mother, Nonkululeko Hloniphile Mhlongo, also known as Mamhlongo, reportedly pushing for the deal to go through.
"Mamhlongo's eyes are on the lobolo price, which is reportedly to be six figures and about 100 cattle," said a member of the Zuma family, who asked not to be named as he isn't allowed to speak to the media on family matters.
King Mswati is expected to pay R2-million and 100 head of cattle as lobolo for Nomcebo. The king's delegation has already travelled to Zuma's ancestral home of Kwadakwadunuse in Nkandla, northern Kwazulu-natal, for the cultural practice of ukucela (asking for the elders' permission).
The union has sparked outrage and fear for Nomcebo's safety, with the SSN accusing Zuma of exploiting his own family to further his "nefarious agenda."
The situation remains tense, with the future of Nomcebo and the relationship between the two families uncertain.
