04/01/2009 21:55 - (SA)
Zuma wedding 'unites' SA - Zim
SOME say it was the wedding of the year. Others say Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city, has never seen anything like it before.
It was the wedding that brought two countries together: the son of Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change (Mutambara faction) (MDC-M) secretary- general Welshman Ncube and the daughter of ANC president Jacob Zuma were to be married.
More than 500 guests packed the fancily touched-up Hall Number 4 at the International Trade Fair Ground.
Zuma and his huge entourage, which included former president Thabo Mbeki’s legal adviser, Mojanku Gumbi, swept into the city to a royal welcome by locals who lined the streets to quench their fascination with the man tipped to be South Africa’s next leader.
Bongani Wesley Ncube (25) married 23-year-old Gugulethu – Zuma’s second daughter with Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
The couple divorced in 1998.
Zuma and his 14-vehicle convoy – which included vehicles from the South African embassy – were given a police escort.
Army marksmen followed the convoy. There was a marked police presence on street corners along the motorcade’s route – a sight only seen locally when President Robert Mugabe is in town.
Political heavyweights on either side of the Limpopo lined up to congratulate Zuma and Ncube on their children’s marriage.
Mugabe sent Zanu-PF national chairperson John Nkomo to meet Zuma at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport to convey his congratulations.
Ncube’s comrades turned out in force, including the party’s leader Arthur Mutambara, his deputy Gibson Sibanda, Job Sikhala, Senator David Coltart and Paul Themba Nyathi.
The rival MDC faction led by Morgan Tsvangirai sent national executive member Senator Sekai Holland.
Former Zimbabwean home affairs minister Dumiso Dabengwa, now the interim chairperson of the revived Zimbabwe African People’s Union (Zapu), also attended.
The couple arrived at the venue in a maroon Lexus sedan, both looking splendid and momentarily stealing the attention away from their famous parents.
The bride wore a white form fitting, strapless dress with sweetheart neckline and lace overlay floor- length fishtail gown. She also wore gold pointed toe pump shoes and sported fine curly braids worn in a ponytail.
The groom wore a black tailored suit with matching black shoes.
Zuma, easily the best-dressed man in the hall, stepped out in a single-breasted coffee-coloured tailored suit worn with a white shirt and contrasting lavender tie. He wore brown two-tone shoes to match.
The groom’s father revealed how he tried to dissuade his son – a mathematics and statistics graduate student at the University of Cape Town – from getting hitched because he thought he was too young.
“He took the occasion to remind me that I was actually two years younger than him when I married his mother,” said Ncube to delirious laughter in the packed hall.
He added: “I am happy that my son has found a beautiful wife. When they are in Zimbabwe they are at home. When they are in South Africa, they are also at home.”
Zuma said: “There are two feelings. Sadness in that I am parting with my daughter. She has behaved very well. I am very happy that she got married in Zimbabwe.
“I am happy that our relations with Zimbabwe will be strengthened because of this wedding. It is now going to be easy for me to travel to Bulawayo ... I will just say I am going to see my daughter. We are not just neighbours now, but we are relatives.”
Zuma added: “I am here to reclaim the cattle that Mzilikazi looted when he left Zululand.” The guests fell about laughing.
He was referring to Ndebele King Mzilikazi who rebelled against Shaka in 1868 before trekking up north until the Ndebeles finally settled in Matabeleland.
Guests were treated to entertainment by the Cool Crooners and Jazz Invitation.
Then the highlight. The Thandanani Women’s Ensemble helped Zuma to his feet to sing Awuleth’ Umshini Wami, the struggle song that has become the ANC leader’s signature tune. The whole hall went berserk, joining Zuma in the song and dance. – www.newzimbabwe.com
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