King Mswati III may demand 300 cows for his daughter’s lobola – report

Mzwakhe Phiri may have to pay at least 300 cows to King Mswati III for lobola for his eldest daughter, Princess Sikhanyiso, provided the royal family agrees to his request.

Princess Sikhanyiso is the king’s eldest daughter from his first wife, Inkhosikati LaMbikiza. She studied in the UK, the US and Australia and holds a master’s degree in digital communication.

The demand for the number of cattle has reportedly prompted Prince Mnikwa Dlamini, the chief of Hhohho near Pigg’s Peak, to ask his subjects to donate cattle to the 30-year-old man.

The Malawian High Commission was reportedly also approached to ask Swaziland-based Malawians to contribute to Phiri, though Malawian consul Harris Kamaga denied reports of lobola crowdfunding, City Press has reported.

Phiri was born in Swaziland, but his late grandfather came from Malawi.

The man will reportedly initially need to present 50 cows to the Swazi monarch to open negotiations for his 30-year-old daughter’s hand in marriage, as a sign of respect.

The king is yet to determine how many cows he will need for the rest of the lobola, but the publication has estimated no less than 300.

The former basketball player who played in Mozambique, Italy and Finland, however, told the publication he was not ready to marry.

The king’s brother, Prince Thumbumuzi, who was reportedly asked to facilitate the lobola negotiations said though the king did not discriminate against commoners if they wanted to marry his daughters, the 300 cattle in lobola would make King Sobhuza [Mswati’s father] turn in his grave.

“It is not Swazi culture to bankrupt someone who wants to pay lobola. Lobola is symbolic, and has spiritual and social dimensions,” he was quoted as saying.