King Mswati’s 8th Wife Commits Suicide Following ‘Abuse’

The eighth wife of Swaziland King Mswati III, Ms Senteni Masango, has committed suicide, local media confirmed.

“The king’s wife is believed to have overdosed on about 40 amitriptyline capsules – widely used to block the long-term (chronic) pain of some rheumatic conditions and treat depression and related disorders,”

Ms Masango – known as Inkhosikati LaMasango –was found dead early on Friday morning and she was buried on Sunday morning.

King Mswati III chose Ms Masango as his eighth bride in September 1999, when she was only 18.

It soon emerged she had a record for truancy, poor grades and she was a high-school dropout and a rebel.

Last year, King Mswati III, married his latest bride, Ms Siphelele Mashwama, who was aged 19 years.

What allegedly made matters worse was the king’s order to ensure that she neither attends her late sister’s memorial service nor funeral. Lately she has lived alone for over three years in a big mansion with not a single visit from her husband, the king.

The king’s right hand-man, Khandlela Mdluli, could not be reached for comment as his phone rang unanswered.

Last year in September, the king officially unveiled a new bride, Siphelele Mashwama (19), the daughter of a Swaziland Cabinet minister, Jabulile Mashwama.

She became his fourteenth wife, though some have left him. Further reports claim he now has 15 wives.

King Mswati’ birth name is Makhosetive Dlamini, which means “King of Nations”.  When Mswati’s father, King Sobhuza II died, Mswati was only 14 years old. Because he was still attending school at this time, two of his father’s queens (Queen Dzeliwe Shongwe, and Queen Ntombi Tfwala) stepped in as regent until Mswati could take the throne.

Mswati has been criticised for his lavish lifestyle, especially by the media; in one report he has been accused of living a lavish lifestyle while his people starve. In the 2014 national budget, parliament allocated $61 million for the king’s annual household budget, while 63% of Swazis live on less than $1.25 per day. Following criticism of his purchase of luxury cars, including a $500,000 Maybach, he banned the photography of his vehicles. According to the Forbes 2009 list of the World’s 15 Richest Royals, King Mswati is worth a reported $200 million.

It is a tradition for the Swazi King to choose a wife every year.

The Sherburne-educated king choses a new bride during the famous Reed Dance ceremony, also known as Umhlanga.

The Reed Dance ceremony is an annual Swazi and Zulu tradition held in August or September.

In Swaziland, tens of thousands of unmarried and childless girls and women travel from the various chiefdoms to participate in the eight-day event, and would-be brides are publicly checked to ascertain their virginity.

The Kingdom of Swaziland is one of the world’s last remaining absolute monarchies.

King Mswati III was crowned in 1986 at the age of 18, succeeding his long-serving father King Sobhuza II, who died at the age of 82.

The king, now aged 50, who is known as Ngweyama – the lion – has many wives and often appears in public in traditional dress. 

(NAN/Africareview)