King furious over costume theft

2005-12-18 14:02

Mbabane - King Mswati 3 of Swaziland performs a dance at a traditional festival on Sunday but the festivities have been overshadowed by a scandal over the theft of the king's "umdada" costume.

The leopard-skin wrap went missing about three weeks ago as Mswati prepared to take part in the Incwala or kingship ceremony, a ritual that tests whether the king is fit to reign.

The costume was found in the possession of Mswati's financial adviser S'thofeni Ginindza who claimed that one of the king's valets sold it to him, the Swazi Observer newspaper reported.

Ginindza told the newspaper that he did not know that it had been stolen from the king and had since met with Mswati to apologise.

Punishment from the ancestors

He also paid a fine of two cows for embarrassing the monarch, the newspaper said.

The king's older brother Prince Masitsela was quoted by The Times of Swaziland as saying that those who stole the costume would be dealt with by the ancestral spirits.

"Anyone who came in contact with the costume is in for a shock," said the prince.

"In the history of the Swazis, anyone who touches anything belonging to the king, be it a trouser or anything that he wears, angers the gods who will cast a spell on him," the prince was quoted as saying.

Sources from the royal household said the king had refused to wear the costume after it had been returned and a new attire was found for his dance performance at the Ngabezweni royal residence, some 25km east of Mbabane.

Mswati, 37, has ruled by decree since he ascended to the throne at the age of 18.

Wedged between South Africa and Mozambique, Swaziland has the world's highest HIV/Aids infection rates and more than 65% of the 1.2 million inhabitants live on less than $1 a day.

- AFP