Swazis celebrate 40th birthday
2008-09-06 13:15
Mbabane - Swaziland was marking the 40th birthday of its king and its independence from Britain in a lavish ceremony.
The cost of Saturday's celebrations - officially put at $2.5m though widely believed to be at least five times more - left a sour taste among the 70% of Swaziland's one million people who survive below the poverty line.
The government calls them the 40-40 festivities, marking King Mswati III's birthday and the anniversary of Swaziland's independence from Britain.
But, the number 40 cuts both ways - unemployment, 40%. HIV rates: nearly 40% among adults. Only one in four Swazis can expect to live to celebrate their 40th birthday because of the world's worst Aids rate.
- AP