Nomcebo Zuma, the 16th wife of King Mswati III and daughter of former President Jacob Zuma, arrived in Samoa on Friday for the 2024 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
The king is on a private jet tour for state business and to introduce his new wife. Their itinerary included Italy for the World Food Forum and Serbia, where the king donated R1 million to eSwatini University students, with each receiving R8,000.
The royal couple’s trip is estimated to cost eSwatini citizens over R200 million, covering allowances for the delegation and the king’s private jet.
Nomcebo, 21, was introduced as the king’s wife during the Reed Dance ceremony, with a lobola of R2 million and 100 cattle reportedly paid.
King Mswati is known for his luxurious spending, including a R16 million watch displayed at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s inauguration. Nomcebo has been seen wearing a Jacob & Co watch worth R3.9 million.
Despite their opulence, about 70% of the kingdom’s population lives below the poverty line, facing education and health crises, with significant shortages in hospitals and schools, and financial struggles impacting small businesses.
