Zenani Mandela-Dlamini

Zenani Mandela-Dlamini
South Africa Ambassador to Argentina
Assumed office
October 2012
President Jacob Zuma
Preceded by Tony Leon
Personal details
Born (1959-02-04) 4 February 1959
Spouse(s) Thumbumuzi Dlamini
Parents Nelson Mandela, Winnie Mandela

Zenani Mandela-Dlamini (born 4 February 1959) is a South African diplomat. She is the elder daughter of Nelson Mandela and his second wife, Winnie Mandela.

She was nearly born in prison, as Winnie Mandela was arrested close to her birth in 1959,[1] and when she was four her father was sent to prison - where he would stay for the next 27 years. Not until 1974, when she was 16 years old, she could only visit him.[2]

Mandela-Dlamini studied at Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa and science at Boston University.[3] It was there that she first met Prince Thumbumuzi Dlamini of Swaziland (an elder brother of the reigning monarch of Swaziland, Mswati III and of Queen Mantfombi of the Zulus),[4][5] who was studying science at the same university. The two married in 1973 and had four children (Zaziwe (born 1977), Zamaswazi (1979), Zinhle (1980) and Zozuko (1992)) and four grandchildren,[6] but are currently separated.[7] They are co-owners of Mandela, Dlamini and Associates (International Business Consultants).

She was appointed ambassador for South Africa to Argentina in July 2012 (taking office in October), becoming the first of Mandela's children to enter public service;[8] she succeeded retiring diplomat and former opposition leader Tony Leon.

After Mandela was elected president and his divorce to Winnie, Zenani was chosen to accompany her father to his inauguration and become the stand in First Lady of South Africa until her father remarried on his 80th birthday to former Mozambique first lady Graça Machel.

References

  1. zenani, The Guardian, Retrieved 5 May 2016
  2. "'Daddy Stayed in Jail. That Was His Job'; Zenani Mandela's Life Without Father". The Washington Post. 8 November 1987. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
  3. David Smith (2013). "Southern Africa's first multiracial school celebrates 50 triumphant years: Waterford school in Swaziland reflects on its historic role with a series of parades and tributes from students old and new". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 September 2014.
  4. "Swaziland prince and princess attend Boston University". WGBH Boston. 13 May 1987. Retrieved 27 October 2008.
  5. Burke's Royal Families of the World, Volume II. London: Burke's Peerage Ltd. 1980. pp. 217–218, 271, 320. ISBN 0-85011-029-7.
  6. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela. sahistory.org.za
  7. Forde, Fiona. "Mandela set for diplomatic posting to Argentina". The Sunday Independent. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  8. "Mandela daughter Zenani appointed Argentina ambassador". BBC News. 4 July 2012. Archived from the original on 3 February 2013. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
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