For hundreds of years, world leaders have agonised over etiquette at state banquets with the Queen. The President of South Africa also faced a more personal dilemma: which wife should I take?
Jacob Zuma has opted for novelty and he arrived in London today with his fifth and most recent wife Thobeka Madiba. Mr Zuma, thought to be the father of 20 children, has three current First Ladies, the latest of whom he married in January.
“This is almost a honeymoon for her. They did not have time for one in January so he’s decided to take her to London with him,” said Jonathan Clayton, Africa Correspondent for The Times, said.
Multiple marriages are legal in South Africa and form a part of Zulu culture, the largest tribal group in the country. However, a series of scandals and a rape allegation have dented the credibility of Mr Zuma’s unusual love life.
“Some South Africans are embarrassed by the President’s domestic arrangements but he has said that he would choose between his wives for different duties on merit,” Clayton said.
“His first wife is relatively elderly and unlikely to enjoy long-distance travel, while there’s a feeling that the second wife is annoyed with the President after she failed to attend his recent wedding.”
One of his wives, Kate Mantsho, the mother of five of his children, committed suicide with an overdose, aged 44.
Another wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, 60, the mother of four of his children, divorced him in 1998. She is now home affairs minister in Mr Zuma’s government.
The newlyweds landed at Heathrow this morning ahead of a three-day state visit. The President looked relaxed as he walked across the tarmac in a dark suit, while his wife wore a turquoise dress and matching jacket.
The couple and their entourage were greeted at the airport by Viscount Brookeborough, Lord-in-Waiting, on behalf of the Queen.
The official welcome to Britain will be staged tomorrow with full pomp and ceremony. Traditionally, visiting heads of state receive a ceremonial greeting from the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh at Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall.
Mr Zuma, 67, will visit Buckingham Palace and Downing Street during his tour. He had hoped that the visit would shore up his Government’s tarnished reputation and banish a growing perception that he is already a lame duck leader.
His recent visit to the World Economic Forum in Davos, however, failed to project the image of global statesman. Mr Zuma drew laughter when he was questioned about which of his wives he loved the most and replied: “All equally, of course.”
The road show has not been welcomed by everyone back home. “He should be governing this country, not spending our money on wives,” said Viv Koadi, a middle-class black businesswoman who describes herself as a “former” Zuma supporter.
As if street protests and party in-fighting were not enough, Mr Zuma found himself mired in yet another sex scandal after reports that he had recently fathered a 20th child, with a woman who was not one of his three wives nor his fiancée.
Itinerary
Tomorrow
- Mr Zuma and Prince Philip will review a Guard of Honour before joining the Queen and Mrs Zuma for a state carriage procession along the Mall to Buckingham Palace
- Gordon Brown will skip Prime Minister’s Questions in the Commons to take part in the welcoming ceremony
- The Queen will host a state banquet for the South African guests in Buckingham Palace’s ballroom
Thursday
- The Prime Minister will hold talks with Mr Zuma. Zimbabwe is expected to be high on the agenda as well as climate change, the global economy and the football World Cup, which South Africa is hosting this summer and England hopes to host in 2018
- Presidential couple visit the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London, with Tessa Jowell, the Olympics Minister
- Mr Zuma will give a speech during a banquet at the Guildhall hosted by the Lord Mayor of London
Friday
- Mr Zuma will formally say goodbye to the Queen before visiting the Prince of Wales at Clarence House
- Charles and the President will meet representatives from the Prince’s charities involved in South Africa, after which they will join a business-focused round-table discussion on climate change, youth opportunities and the built environment.
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