Mswati promises better times

2008-09-06 21:15

Mbabane - Swaziland's King Mswati III promised better times for his subjects on Saturday at a lavish celebration marking 40 years of independence for one of the world's poorest countries.

Ranked by Forbes magazine as one of the richest royals in the world, the last absolute monarch in Africa was upbeat about the future of his landlocked nation - despite economic stagnation, two-thirds of its people living in poverty, and one of the world's highest rates of HIV/Aids.

"Today we are telling the world full of turbulence that we are a happy nation, even though faced with these challenges," Mswati told adoring crowds in the Mbabane stadium.

"I am confident that we [will] turn the economy around and improve the standard of living in the next few years."

Tens of thousands waited for hours under a scorching sun to fill the 15 000-seat stadium to capacity.

As the king - dressed in full Swazil regalia, with a wrap around red cloth and red feathers on his head to symbolise his royal blood - was driven into the stadium in an open-roofed BMW, the crowds went wild.

Hail to the king

"Bayethe!" (hail to the king), they cried, as the monarch and his 13 wives rode around the track in a fleet of luxury cars.

The celebration - which continued with traditional dancing and the handing out of several royal orders - was attended by a number of African leaders, including Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

There was a heavy police presence around the stadium following a turbulent week in Swaziland with many protests calling for multi-party democracy.

"It is sad that we are even holding such a day," a disgruntled Mbabane resident who boycotted the event told AFP on condition of anonymity.

"This should have been organised as a small private royal gathering. They must not include the entire nation in their abuse of state resources."

The cost of staging of the event - more than 100 million emalangeni (US$12.8m) - drew condemnation from trade unions, politicians and civil society.

Shopping for quality

They criticised excessive spending including a state-funded shopping spree to the Middle East by the king's wives, and the purchase of 11 luxury cars to ferry guests.

Government officials said the royal shopping trip was an effort to shop for quality. In an unprecedented show of dissent, Swazi women, many of them HIV-positive, took to the streets to protest the spending spree.

King Mswati III succeeded his late father Sobhuza in April 1986. His reign has been characterised by high spending to support an extravagant lifestyle and maintain his wives and children.

The king, who ascended the throne at age 18, keeps a strong traditional grip on power, with responsibility for appointing the prime minister, legislature and judiciary.

In the next two weeks, the kingdom will hold parliamentary elections where a new prime minister and a cabinet will be appointed. Since political parties are banned, election candidates can only stand as individuals.

- AFP