South Africans will have to get used to seeing more of African National Congress president Jacob Zuma’s man-boobs flapping during traditional Zulu wedding ceremonies.
Last Sunday, 35-year-old Thobeka Stacy Mabhija was confirmed as Zuma’s next wife at an umbondo ceremony held at Zuma’s Nkandla home in rural KwaZulu-Natal. The ceremony — a confirmation of the groom having paid lobola — saw Zuma’s family presented with gifts including a sheep, goats and vegetables.
Although the family is tight-lipped about a wedding date, Mabhija is set to become Zuma’s third concurrent wife. A year ago Zuma, a polygamist, married Nompumelelo Ntuli. He remains married to first wife Sizakele Khumalo and is divorced from another, Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. His second wife, Kate, committed suicide in 2000.
The chattering classes will no doubt be wondering how much they will have to fork out if Zuma, his ever growing harem and his reported 18 children move into Mahlambandlovu, the state president’s official residence in Pretoria later this year.
But Zuma’s polygamy embodies more philosophical contradictions — the clash of traditionalism and modernity — inherent in South Africa.
The practice has been criticised for adding to the 5,7-million people living with HIV/Aids in South Africa, while the domestic power dynamics created are blamed for contributing towards violence against women.
Judging by the ANC’s response to the news of another Zuma marriage, followed by a terse statement stating ”there is nothing sinister” about it, there will be some in the ruling party who are uncomfortable about the message Zuma’s polygamy sends out.
Although subscribing to an archaic tradition Zuma remains head of a venerable liberation organisation that has fought for the equality of all and is attempting to modernise the most-watched democracy on the African continent.
So why has Zuma taken for a wife a ”socialite” who, in a modern society is unlikely to break fingernails hewing wood, feeding chickens and helping around the Nkandla household – one of the traditional reasons for a Zulu man to take further wives?
Zuma’s office had not responded to this question at the time of going to press, but the Mail & Guardian, sensing that perhaps Msholozi just hasn’t found ”the one”, sought the insight of professional matchmaker Shannon MacNoughton of the Perfect Partners agency.
”Zuma is perhaps an introvert pretending to be an extrovert for his fans. He is passionate, macho and needs someone who will bring class and refinement and perhaps stop him acting rashly,” she said.
”He needs someone who is also passionate and upstanding. She would treasure her roots and culture and respect her elders, as long as they stay out of things they don’t understand, like modern science, medicine, politics and anything high-powered like Ferraris, race horses and casinos.”
His perfect match then? ”First choice has to be Oprah Winfrey,” said MacNaughton. ”Her influence is never challenged, every word she speaks is gospel and world leaders listen with respect. JZ will be elevated to god-like stature. Oprah’s financial managers, spin doctors and experts on everything from diet and shopping, to living a meaningful life, could take over the running of the country.”