Another Wife For President Zuma?

SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma is to marry for a fifth time, it has been claimed.

The Sowetan newspaper reports that polygamous Zuma will marry Thobeka Mabhija at a private ceremony on January 4.

Zuma divorced his first wife Nkosazana-Dlamini in 1998 and his second wife Kate Mantsho died in 2000.
The 67-year-old Zulu traditionalist has gone on to marry two other women -- Sizakele Khumalo and Nompumelelo Ntuli who have attended official events together or individually since Zuma became President earlier this year.

A source told the Sowetan: “The wedding is on January 4. Only close family friends, relatives and locals are expected to attend.”

But a spokesman for Zuma would neither confirm nor deny the report.

Zizi Kodwa told reporters: “I don't know anything about the wedding. I am in Cape Town and Zuma is in Nkandla (Zuma’s rural home in kwaZulu Natal). I don't know what is happening in Nkandla.”

When Zuma was sworn in in May, all three wives were said to be present, but only his first wife Sizakele Khumalo accompanied him on stage.

He introduced her to the crowd but then added: "You will see other wives some other time."

Polygamy is still common in rural KwaZulu Natal, where Zuma comes from.
Many Zulus who are Christian have turned away from the practice, says political analyst Protas Madlala, but it persists in rural areas because of the low standard of education and enduring poverty there.

Traditionally, the whole family would live in the same compound, with each wife maintaining her own round house, or rondavel.
The first wife is usually expected to have some say in choosing the subsequent wives, to make sure the husband does not choose someone she will quarrel with.

"The man is expected to rotate his nightly visits," says Madlala. "Rural poverty definitely plays a part in keeping the tradition alive. Parents may depend on the bride prices that are paid, and may ask their children to go into it."

University graduate Mabhija was born in Durban in 1973.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and has worked for the Standard Bank and mobile phone company, Cell C.
Zuma has paid lobola for two other women -- Swazi Princess Sebentile Dlamini and Bongi Ngema, with whom he has a 3-year-old son.

He reportedly has 18 children.

NewZimbabwe.com