Royal delegates open talks for Zulu king’s new bride in Mpumalanga

The Zulu royal family has opened lobola negotiations with the Mawewe royal house in Mpumalanga on behalf of King Misizulu KaZwelithi to marry their granddaughter, Princess Sihle Mdluli. 

Mdluli, 25, is the daughter of Chief Khulile Mkhwatshwa of the Mawewe Indlamadoda Royal Authority at Mgobodzi village near the Eswatini border in Mpumalanga. 

One of the delegates of the Zulu royal house told Sowetan that  Princess Sihle has since been kept in one of the kingdom’s royal houses and has been formally introduced to the inner family. 

Sowetan witnessed the delegation from the Zulu royal family arriving at the Mawewe Tribal Council on Sunday in buses and private cars.

They ascended to the house led by a praise singer while singing as the elders led at the front 

“Siyakhuleka, siyakhuleka aboMkhwatshwa, size ngokuhle… sithunywe Ingonyama yaMaZulu,” they said while waiting to be let into the royal house. 

The princess had represented Mpumalanga in Miss Indoni, a competition meant to encourage young women to observe their culture and  preserve their virginity.  

Both families’ representatives did not want to speak to Sowetan on the record, citing the ceremony at the weekend was not the official event but a pre-amble for talks. 

“Since you know the traditions of royal families, this is not a formal negotiation but it’s what we called ‘kufaka  Lubhoko’ – testing the waters,” said one of the delegates.