Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
THE wedding of King Mambo, real name Mike Moyo and Zandile Mhlambi, who hails from the Vaal in South Africa, brought colour and life to the suburb of Matsheumhlope in Bulawayo yesterday, as pomp and regal splendour marked the union of a couple whose love could not be divided by the borders that separate their countries.
The couple, who had a white wedding in South Africa last week, solidified their union with a traditional wedding in Bulawayo that was attended by both their families, chiefs and leaders from various spheres of life.
If the wedding in South Africa last week was a “traditional” white wedding, yesterday’s ceremony was a fitting homage to erstwhile African nuptial traditions, as from start to finish, the event was punctuated by the showcase of customs that are the hallmarks of King Mambo and his subjects.
As soon as the new queen arrived at the gates of King Mambo’s home, she was welcomed by traditional dancers who soared and leapt into the air, singing their lungs out to announce the arrival of the bride.
Indeed, joy and jubilation marked the bride’s arrival as the kingdom’s subjects gathered to witness the union of their revered monarch and his chosen queen. As the couple met for the first time at the gates of King Mambo’s house, wrapping clothes were laid at the bride feet, making sure that the new Mrs Moyo did not touch the soil in her new home before she sat down beside her king.
Radiant in a custom-made traditional gown complete with dazzling headgear, the bride was escorted down the aisle, while King Mambo, equally dashing in his ceremonial attire, escorted her with visible breaming pride. The couple exchanged vows in a heartfelt ceremony and sealed their love with a tender kiss.
Following the ceremony, the royal couple made their way to the grand reception, where guests indulged in a feast, with merriment that was meant to symbolise the bright future that lay ahead for the newly-weds.
The fanfare and glitz that accompanied the ceremony was a fitting chapter in the story of a romance that the bride described as a fairytale.
“I’m still misplaced in this dream happening in my life. It’s like living in a fairy tale,” she said.
The romance between the two kick-started almost accidentally, as they met when King Mambo’s company was sponsoring musicians for an event that the bride was organising. The first meeting between them took place in King Mambo’s offices in Orange Grove, Johannesburg.
The new queen reflected on their meeting as a sign of God’s grace, as she never thought that through her philanthropic work, she would be led to royalty from a neighbouring country. Queen Zandile is the founder of Koti Social Services which, among other things, supplies sanitary pads to underprivileged girls around the continent.
“We met when he offered his assistance for one of my campaigns. We shared contacts following our work arrangement, little did I know he would fall in love,” she said.
King Mambo said he had been drawn towards his new queen by her kind-hearted nature.
“Her good heart and humanity among other characteristics is what drew me to her. Zandile has a warm heart.”
Mhlambi family spokesperson, Vusimuzi Qwabe expressed his jubilation at the couple’s union.
“It’s a blessing to see my sister-in-law marry King Mambo. It’s remarkable to see a king from Bulawayo choosing a rose from the dusty streets of Vaal,” he said.
Qwabe also encouraged young men present during the wedding to work hard so that they could be able to take care of their wives and families when they chose to get married.
“Before a man gets married they need to work first. God did not initially give Adam a partner but he gave him a helper after he had done work in Eden. Nowadays, you have young men who go to their parents and tell them that they want to get married when they have no savings or anything to their name. A lot of our sisters are struggling out there because young men woo them by just saying I love you, but they don’t give them anything to eat. I love you without pap to eat does not work, so a man needs to work,” Qwabe said.
Speaking on behalf of the king, Chief Talaunda Moyo, said that the marriage of the pair signified the strong relations that Zimbabwe and South Africa enjoyed.
“We are witnessing a monumental moment with a South African queen stepping into our nation to play a key role. This is the first time we’ve had a queen from another country,” he said.
Yesterday’s ceremony was also used to highlight some of the works of King Mambo over the past year, which include hosting traditional prayers for peace, rain, reconciliation, unity and thanksgiving, a traditional culture and spirituality festival and a
National Traditional Prayer Day for peace held at Danangombe Shrine in Shangani ahead of the 2023 Harmonised Elections. King Mambo also hosted the Northern Post Elections Thanksgiving Prayers on December 2 at Chaminuka Shrine in Chitungwiza and the Southern Post Elections Thanksgiving Prayers on December 6 at Cowdray Park Grounds in Bulawayo. In addition, he also spearheaded the cleansing of accident zones, black spots, mines and other disaster scenes and championed rituals for Mines to bring out expected mineral yields. King Mambo also advocated for the teaching of teenage girls and young women on how to keep themselves clean, good morals, abstinence and self-sustaining works.