Times Of Swaziland: 140 LOBOLA CATTLE FOR TSANDZILE

140 LOBOLA CATTLE FOR TSANDZILE
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BY MDUDUZI MAGAGULA on 19/06/2016 05:21:00


LOBAMBA – His Majesty the King yesterday received 140 cattle from the family
of Musa Mdluli which resides in Mashobeni, Maseyisini constituency, in the
Shiselweni region.
The cattle were payment of the bride price for Mdluli’s wife, Princess
Tsandzile, who is also the minister of Home Affairs.
Her husband is a businessman and a former civil servant, who previously worked
for the Ministry of Education and Training as Under Secretary.
The couple has two children - a boy and a girl.
They have been married for 27 years.
The colourful event that took place in the Ludzidzini Royal Residence attracted
scores of people from Maseyisini and from within the royal.
His Majesty danced with the couple for the entire afternoon.
The event attracted scores of people from Maseyisini, who were colourfully
dressed for the event that began at around 4pm, when the king entered the Royal
Cattle byre to inspect the cattle.
Customarily breaking down the lobola,  Senator Ndumiso Mdluli, who led the
Mdluli delegation as Umyeni, told the King that 100 of the cattle covered
emabheka (main price), 20 lugege and the other 20 were insulamnyembeti.
The king was pleased with the amount of cattle offered by the Mdulis.
“Nitishayile sibili, siyabonga kakhulu boMdluli (You outdid yourselves and we
thank you for the effort),” said the king as he received the fat beasts.
After viewing the cattle in the byre, the event continued in the open arena
within the royal residence.
This is where Their Majesties joined the members of the royal family and that of
the Mdluli family in dance, celebrating the success of the event.
The King danced in the arena for over two hours.
Her Majesty the Indlovukazi also danced up storm, as she would from time to time
join the well-wishers in dance.
She literally stole the show each time she stood up to dance in the arena with
the bride, Princess Tsandzile.
Emakhosikati to his Majesty also stole the show with their synchronized dance
moves which delighted the dancing throngs of people from both families.
The celebration went on for a better part of the night.
At nightfall, festivities moved to the marquees, which were strategically placed
on the peripheries of the arena.
Senator Ndumiso Mdluli, interviewed during the ceremony, said the event was a
success.
“Royalty has accepted the cattle we brought with us and we are happy that they
warmly welcomed us,” he said.
The Senator said he was proud that the groom, who is a close relative, worked
hard to acquire the cattle.
“He has been working on the project to raise the cattle for many years,” he
said.
Senator Mdluli said while Musa tried to accumulate the cattle, some died because
of the drought but he never despaired.
Instead, he continued to acquire more cattle.
“My brother loves his wife very much. He always puts her first in everything
he does. That is why he worked hard to raise the cattle we have brought here
today,” Senator Mdluli said.
He also said the whole Mdluli family was proud of Princess Tsandzile because she
was a hard working woman who was very humble.
“She has a good heart and is welcoming and accommodative to everyone in the
family,” he said.
As is customary with such events, the ceremony cointinues and is expected to end
today.
There will be more dancing and other cultural activities.