"Family Affair": King Mswati III Reportedly Set to Marry 16th Wife, Daughter of Shembe Church Leader
- King Mswati III of Eswatini is reportedly set to marry Nontokozo Shembe, daughter of Shembe church leader Inyazi LweZulu
- Royal insiders claim lobola has already been paid, with travel documents showing Nontokozo visited Eswatini during the uMhlanga Reed Dance ceremony
- The King's spokesperson declined to comment in detail, saying the matter 'appears to be a family affair'
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Source: UGC
King Mswati III of Eswatini is reportedly preparing to take a 16th wife. The woman believed to be at the centre of the union is Nontokozo Shembe, the daughter of Inyazi LweZulu, the leader of the Shembe church.
According to Swaziland News, the report was confirmed by royal insiders and supported by travel records showing that Nontokozo had visited the Kingdom's palace on multiple occasions. Immigration documents sourced from government systems indicate she arrived in Eswatini on 28 August 2026, during the uMhlanga Reed Dance ceremony at Ludzidzini Palace, and departed on 4 September 2026.
Lobola reportedly paid
Sources within the senior leadership of the Shembe church told the publication that the payment of bride price, known as lobola, had already been concluded. In Eswatini culture, the payment of lobola formally marks the beginning of a marriage. Nontokozo is now widely expected to be officially introduced to the nation.
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She was reportedly due to be introduced to the public as "Liphovela" to the King during the Reed Dance, but the introduction was allegedly postponed out of respect for former South African President Jacob Zuma, who was present at the ceremony. Zuma's own daughter, Nomcebo, was previously married to King Mswati. That marriage drew attention earlier in the year when Nomcebo briefly returned to Nkandla in KwaZulu-Natal, reportedly saying the King had not been paying her enough attention. Royal emissaries were later sent to negotiate her return.
When approached for comment, King Mswati's spokesperson Percy Simelane did not confirm or deny the marriage, saying:
"This one appears to be a family affair. I would not know what is in the mind of the royal family with regards to the marriage in question."
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Swazis react to the news
The story stirred plenty of conversation on the page, with many Swazis taking to the comments with humour and sharp observations:
Elias Madonsela wrote:
"As he said, he wants to have a good number of wives"
Phumlani Kunene commented:
"So now he's marrying the angel of God"
Musa Tsa said:
"These are no longer marriages but arrangements"
More Briefly News stories on Swaziland
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- Experience the vibrant Umhlanga Reed Dance 2026, where Swati maidens proudly celebrate their heritage, presenting reeds to the Queen Mother in Ludzidzini.
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Source: Briefly News
