$600 000 birthday bash for king
2004-04-18 20:13
Mbabane - Swaziland's King Mswati III celebrates his 36th birthday with a $600 000 bash early next week and workers were on Saturday busy preparing for the event, a top aide said.
The celebrations come at a time when Swaziland, Africa's last absolute monarchy, faces mounting debt and many of its one million population are ravaged by the HIV/Aids scourge.
The sum will reportedly cover costs of new cars, guests' accommodation, personnel costs, communications equipment and food. Ten new BMWs of the latest series have been bought for the event.
"The stage is set and we are ready for Monday," said Maswazi Shongwe, in charge of Monday's celebrations at the 20 000-capacity Prince of Wales sports ground in Mbabane.
Workers were on Saturday erecting a giant marquee at the stadium and putting up national flags on the way to the venue.
The Swazi monarch is no stranger to controversy.
He recently attracted sweeping criticism for ordering new palaces worth $14m for his 10 wives and two fiancees at a time when the country faces a deficit of abound $145m.
The king has also been slammed for ordering a $45m royal jet, whose purchase was later scrapped.
- AFP