Zulu king wants new palace for sixth wife
09/06/2012
In the category of things that would never fly in a republic, South Africa’s Zulu king is asking the government to lay out $700,000 to build a palace for his sixth wife.
King Goodwill Zwelithini is asking for appropriation because Queen Zola Mafu, the king’s youngest wife, is sharing a palace with one of his other wives.
In addition, the king wants $1.4 million to upgrade the place of Queen MaMchiza, his fifth wife.
Not surprisingly, this isn’t sitting well with everyone, as the KwaZulu Natal government, one of nine provincial administrations, has already budgeted about $6.9 million for the royal family this year, according to the BBC.
“Opposition parties have previously accused the king, his wives and more than 25 children of lavish spending,” it added.
King Zwelithini, 64 is the leader of South Africa’s largest ethnic group. He became king of the Zulu nation in 1968.
Queen Mafu gained notoriety eight years ago when, as a 14-year-old, she first appeared in public with King Zwelithini.
In 2008, opposition parties criticized King Zwelithini’s wives for spending about $24,000 on linen, designer clothes and costly holidays, according to the BBC.
The king has six queens living in palaces in different parts of Nongoma, a rural area about 185 miles north of Durban. Queen Mafu was living with Queen Mntombi Dlamini, the king’s third wife.
(Above: Goodwill Zwelithini, right, king of the Zulu nation.)
09/06/2012 at 6:29 pm
Well, I suppose she is old enough now to need her own place. A 14 year old bride? That is just sad
09/06/2012 at 7:06 pm
Six wives – why? And, yes, a 14-year-old bride is particularly sad?
I can imagine the king wants wife No. 6 to have her own palace because he’s tiired of hearing her and wife No. 3 gripe to him about having to share a place. You’ll notice all the palaces are located a distance from one another.
09/07/2012 at 12:46 am
We all know how annoying it can be to share a house (even if it was a palace) with a teenaged girl, can you imagine that annoyance if she was also sharing your husband? I’m surprised she lasted this long!
09/07/2012 at 10:07 am
Yes, indeed.
I never really understood the polygomy thing, either. I mean, is it worth having to listen to what I imagine would be the constant griping and complaining?
09/07/2012 at 10:22 am
I imagine that two wives would be like two husbands, there would never be a time when everyone in the relationship was completely happy!
I suppose that is an argument for keeping them in separate palaces, but you would have to stay away for long enough for them to be happy to see you when you did grace them with your presence. Then leave before they got bored enough to start whinging…. With 6 wives the poor bloke probably never rests!
09/07/2012 at 10:32 am
Well, it’s not like anyone forced him to have six wives. Though, I suppose he does deserve some credit for not taking Henry VIII’s route for racking up half a dozen spouses …
09/07/2012 at 10:36 am
Give him time….