Line of succession to the Swazi throne
In Swaziland, no king can appoint his successor. Only an independent special traditional Council called the Liqoqo decides which of the wives shall be "Great Wife" and "Indlovukazi" (She-Elephant / Queen Mother). The son of this "Great Wife" will automatically become the next king.
The "Great Wife" must only have one child who is a boy (A king cannot have a sister or a brother) and be of good character. Her character affects her child's chances of ascending to the status of king. According to Swazi culture, a son cannot be the heir if his mother is not of good standing. She must not bear the maiden name of Nkhosi-Dlamini and she must not be a ritual wife (i.e. the eldest son is never the heir).[1]
Offspring by wife
The king currently has fourteen wives and 23 children. A Swazi king's first two wives are chosen for him by the national councillors. These two have special functions in rituals and their sons can never become kings. The first wife must be a member of the Matsebula clan, the second of the Motsa clan.
Swazi tradition says young girls becomes the king’s fiancées after they have been abducted in the traditional way. They are termed liphovela, or "brides". They graduate from being fiancées to full wives as soon as they fall pregnant, when the king customarily marries them. But the traditional marriage, known as “Ludvendve” (marriage to the king) only follows later. [2]
In traditional Swazi culture, the king is expected to marry a woman from every clan in order to cement relationships with each part of Swaziland. This means that the king must have many wives.[1] In September 2008, Mswati III may choose his 14th wife.[3]
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- Inkhosikati (Queen) LaMatsebula—Ritual wife. Has a degree in Psychology.
- Son: HRH Prince Sicalo
- Son: Prince Maveletiveni
- Inkhosikati LaMotsa—Ritual wife. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador since 1996.[4]
- Son: Prince Majahonkhe (1991)
- Son: "Prince Buhlebenkhosi"
- Son: "Prince Lusuku"
- 1986 Inkhosikati LaMbikiza—(born 16 June 1969 as Sibonelo Mngomezulu) Daughter of Percy Mngomezulu; an advocate, received her degree from UNISA. LaMbikiza is involved in the Swazi Royal Initiative to Combat AIDS (RICA). The initiative involves the recording of songs by Swazi, South African and international artists and the proceeds of the sales are allocated to programmes aimed at helping people affected by AIDS. http://www.queensibonelo.com/
- Inkhosikati LaNgangaza —(born Carol Dlamini) [Patron of world organisation "Hospice at Home" previously headed by Diana, Princess of Wales].
- Daughter: Princess Temaswati Dlamini (1988)
- Daughter: Princess Tiyandza Dlamini (1992)
- Daughter: Princess Tebukhosi Dlamini (1994)
- Putsoana Hwala—(born 1974 ??) Known as Inkhosikati LaHwala She left the king on June 24, 2004 and moved to South Africa.[5]
- Son: Prince Bandzile (1990)
- Daughter: Princess Temashayina (1994)
- Delisa Magwaza—(born 1974 ??) Known as Inkhosikati LaMagwaza. She also left the king in 2004, after having an affair.[5] She married a South African businessman, with whom she has a child. [2]
- Daughter: Princess Temtsimba Dlamini (1992)
- Daughter: Princess Sakhizwe Dlamini (1999)
- August 2000 Inkhosikati LaMasango—(born 1981 ?? as Senteni Masango)
- Daughter: "Princess Sentelweyinhosi" (2000)
- Daughter: "Princess Sibusezweni" (2003)
- December 1998 Inkhosikati LaGija—(born Angel Dlamini)
- Daughter: "Princess Yenziwe" (2003)
- June 2002 Inkhosikati LaMagongo—(born Nontsetselo Magongo) Niece of Chief Mlobokazana Fakudze, Chief at Mgazini.
- Son: Prince Mcwasho (2002)
- November 2002 Inkhosikati LaMahlangu—(born 1984 as Zena Soraya Mahlangu) (see LaMahlangu controversy)
- Son: Prince Saziwangaye (2004)
- May 2005 Inkhosikati LaNtentesa (born 1981 Noliqhwa Ayanda Ntentesa), betrothed November 2002, married in a traditional function held at Ludzidzini Royal Residence May 26, 2005.[6]
- June 2005 Inkhosikati LaDube (born Nothando Dube) a Miss Teen Swaziland finalist at age 16, chosen at the Umhlanga on August 30, 2004 while she was a grade 9 pupil at Mater Dolorosa High School. She met the king at the birthday party of one of his children before she participated in the Miss Swaziland Teen beauty pageant. Her father is South African, from Barberton. Married 11 June 2005.[6] She had an affair with Ndumiso Mamba.[7] In mid-November 2011, she was ordered to "pack and leave" leave after she pepper-sprayed a guard. [8]
- Daughter: Princess Makhosothando (2005)
- Son: "Prince Betive" (2007)
- Placeholder: (born: October 2009) [7]
- 14 April 2007 Inkhosikati LaNkambule (born Phindile Nkambule), chosen at the Umhlanga in 2005 at age 17.[9]
- Daughter: "Princess Buhlebetive" (2007)
References
- ^ a b Wayua, Muli. "A king, his culture, his wives," Daily Nation (Nairobi, Kenya). December 7, 2002.
- ^ a b Swazi royal family thrown into sordid disarray IOL
- ^ Ndzamela, Phakamisa. "Bare-breasted virgins compete for Swaziland king," Reuters. September 1, 2008.
- ^ United Nations Development Programme: "UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Her Royal Highness Inkhosikati LaMotsa, speaks at the launch of the MDGs at Matsanjeni," 2007.
- ^ a b Ndiweni, Sikhumbuzo Ndiweni. "Swazi queens revolt," 24News.com. July 4, 2004.
- ^ a b [tt_news=16857&no_cache=1 "Swazi King Mswati takes 12th wife"]. The Namibian. 14.06.05. http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=28&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=16857&no_cache=1. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
- ^ a b Nothando Dube, the 12th wife of King Mswati III, says she is isolated and beaten by guards Mail & Guardian
- ^ Swaziland denies Queen Dube evicted from royal palace BBC
- ^ "Swazi king picks young new wife". BBC News. 2005-09-26. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4283932.stm. Retrieved 2010-08-17.