Swazi parly opening deferred
2004-03-03 17:58
Mbabane - Swaziland's King Mswati III has deferred the opening of parliament for a second time in a week allegedly due to a row between the royal entourage and lawmakers over the speaker of the house, a daily said on Wednesday.
The Times of Swaziland quoted Promise Msibi, the clerk to parliament, as saying that Africa's last absolute monarch had postponed the opening of the house indefinitely but did not give a reason.
"We would like to sincerely apologise... for the late announcement and any inconvenience arising thereof," he said.
Parliament was originally supposed to have opened on February 27.
The Times said unconfirmed reports suggested that the move could be linked to the "ongoing saga of the speaker of the house who has resisted calls ... to resign from his position."
Last month, in a dramatic turn of events, Swazi parliamentarians endorsed the election of House of Assembly Speaker Khumalo, who according to reports was asked to step down by people allegedly close to the monarchy.
Sources said the royalist clique apparently told Khumalo they were not happy with the way he was elected.
The Swazi king is no stranger to controversy.
He recently attracted sweeping criticism for ordering new palaces worth $14m for his 10 wives and two fiancées at a time when the country faces a deficit of around $145m.
The king has also been slammed for ordering a $45m royal jet, whose purchase was later scrapped.