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Saturday 19 May 2012

SWAZI CENSORSHIP ON KING’S UK TRIP


The Weekend Observer in Swaziland censored itself in its reporting of King Mswati III’s attendance at Windsor Castle to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee.

The newspaper reported, ‘Among the guests is King Hamad al-Khalifa of Bahrain, whose attendance has been criticised by human rights campaigners.’

But, the newspaper did not report that these same ‘human rights campaigners’ were also complaining that King Mswati, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, had been invited.

Media houses across the world have been reporting that King Mswati is being criticised in London for ‘leading a lavish lifestyle while his people starve’. 

The campaigners also highlight that the King has a personal fortune of US$100 million.

The King, who is reported to have taken an entourage of 30 people with him to London, was met with protests at his hotel and at the Swazi Consulate, where he held a dinner.

The Press Association news agency in the UK, quoted Thobile Gwebu of the Swaziland Vigil who said people in the kingdom had been reduced to eating cow dung to make sure they filled their stomachs as required for Aids medicines provided by non-government organisations (NGOs). 

The Weekend Observer is in effect owned by King Mswati.

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