Biography
Zola Zelusiwe Mafu (born c. 1986) is a member of the Zulu Royal family. She is of Ondini Royal House, Ulundi, and betrothed to the late king in 2006.
The Queen is the sixth wife of the late King Goodwill Zwelithini.
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| Quick Facts | |
| Full Name: | Zola Zelusiwe Mafu |
| Born: | c. 1986 (age 36 years old) |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Education: | St Marks High School, Mbabane |
| Occupation: | Queen |
| Spouse: | King Zwelithini (m. 2006 – 2021) |
| Child: | Prince Nhlendla Zulu |
| Ethnic group: | Zulu |
Early Life
Zola was born in 1986 to a family of six children. She has two brothers and three sisters. Her mother, Rose, worked as a librarian in Swaziland. She lost her father in 2007.
Mantfombi Dlamini whisked Zelusiwe from a Swaziland-based sugarcane farm to learn Zulu Culture. She spent ten years in the KwaKhangela Palace with Queen Mantfombi before marrying King Zwelithini.
Education
Queen Zola Zelusiwe Mafu studied at St Marks High School in Mbabane, the capital of Swaziland. During her matric in 2003, the school named her the “most popular matriculant” that year.
Personal Life
Queen Zola Zelusiwe Mafu is the sixth wife of King Zwelithini. He reportedly paid her lobola of 20 cattle in 2008. She gave birth to Prince Nhlendla in 2005, when she was 18.
There was a delay due to her father’s demise in 2007 since their family was still mourning. The ceremony was scheduled for another day so the bride’s mother could attend.
Other delays affect the wedding even after the mourning. Some reports covered that some family members squabbled over the lobola. She gave birth to Prince Nhlendla Zulu.
Zola was also chairperson of the local Mbabane/Mbuluzi Rotary Club’s research committee.
Photos
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