Mswati wants $14m for palaces

2004-01-13 17:00

Lozitha - King Mswati III of Swaziland, Africa's last absolute monarch, has ordered new palaces for some of his 12 wives at a cost of more than $14m (about R98m)in spite of a huge deficit, a royal source said on Tuesday.

The king has asked the government for 100m emalangeni to build at least nine new palaces dotted around the tiny kingdom for his numerous spouses.

"This is long overdue, for the king's wives have to have their own palaces.

"In terms of Swazi culture, the king cannot use his father's royal residence to accommodate his wives," said the highly placed royal source.

The source added that the money for the palaces already had been allocated in the country's budget for 2004.

The source said landscaping had started in eastern Swaziland where the king was building a state-of-the-art palace for his ninth wife, Nontsetselelo Magongo.

Dependent on food aid

A two-storey palace has been completed at Buhleni in northern Swaziland for his seventh wife, Putsoana Hwala, while another is being planned for 19-year-old Zena Mahlangu, one of the king's fiancees.

Swaziland faces a deficit of about $145m (about R1 016)and about a third of the population is dependent on food aid from the United Nations World Food Programme and other organisations.

Unemployment is estimated to be at about 40% with the economy in a steady decline.

Apart from a severe drought, the country also is battling rising HIV/Aids infection rates with about 38% of the population having the virus.

After elections last year - which were boycotted by pro-democracy groups - Mswati handpicked eight of the 15 ministers to serve in his cabinet.

The country is now also facing a $6m (about R42m) lawsuit as compensation for scrapping the purchase of a $45m royal jet, a news report said on Tuesday.

The jet was commissioned in 2002 by the king's office, but the purchase was vetoed in the Swazi parliament.

- AFP