Security has been beefed up around Nomcebo Zuma, the 21-year-old daughter of uMkhonto weSizwe Party president Jacob Zuma, amidst fears that her life might be in danger.
Insiders privy to the security apparatus of the kingdom explained that since news broke that Zuma’s daughter would be brought into the royal house as Africa’s absolute monarch’s sixteenth wife, there has been hostility and intense mobilisation against the arrangement.
“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.
“The Swati intelligence has also picked up a possible threat on the king’s soon to be wife,” a police source who refused to be named for fear of victimisation told Sunday World.
Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), one of the fierce opponents to King Mswati’s regime, said Swati citizens had to revolt against the unholy alliance.
The organisation explained that Zuma’s daughter was a pawn in her father’s quest to solidify his influence in the money laundering network headed by him and King Mswati.
“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.
“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,” said solidarity network spokesperson Lucky Lukhele.
Another source said it was also evident when Nomcebo made her first public appearance in Eswatini that she was closely guarded with King Mswati leaving nothing to chance.
“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 the source.
Zuma’s daughter was attending the official opening of the R50-million Tibiyo TakaNgwane chicken project on Monday.
This paper reported that King Mswati’ 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).
King Mswati also promised Zuma 100 cattle together with a token of appreciation of R2-million for accepting the marriage. SSN pointed out that Zuma’s action to insert his daughter into the royal court has proven that his political machinations know no bounds, exploiting even his own family to further his nefarious agenda.
“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 organisation.
