Swaziland’s King Mswati III, not content with having a wealth of E1.4 billion (200 million US dollars), and not content with spending about E28 million sending eight of his wives on a shopping trip, and also not content with spending Swazi people’s money on 20 top of the range BMW cars for his birthday party, he now wants ordinary Swazis to give him gifts.
The Swazi Observer reports today (29 August 2008) that the King wants to revive the kwetfula custom in which the nation submits ‘gifts and donations to Royalty as this is the indigenous way of life for the Swazi people’.
The newspaper says, ‘His Majesty said such donations were not bribery to Royalty. He was speaking at Lozitha Palace when receiving gifts and pledges from the business community and individuals for use during the 40/40 double celebration [to mark his 40th birthday and the 40th anniversary of Swaziland’s independence].’
In what is a deeply corrupt kingdom, the King is anxious to dispel concerns that these ‘gifts’ might actually be bribes. The Observer quotes the King, ‘“Even if one was accused of having committed a certain offence, we would treat the offense and donation on different merits.”
‘His Majesty said people should not misinterpret those who donate to Royalty as bribing or campaigning for certain political appointments.
In Swaziland 70 percent of the population earn less than E7 (one US dollar a day) and about 60 per cent of the nearly one million population rely on food aid donated by international agencies. It is reported that one in four people are so hungry they are close to starvation.
Despite this grinding poverty, the King wants his share of the crops.
The Observer reports, ‘The king said from time immemorial, Swazis had adopted a way of life by which a farmer who had harvested from his crops would separate a portion to donate to the King.
‘He thanked various organisations that donated cattle and several gifts to Royalty for use during the 40/40 double celebration.
‘His Majesty said more donations were still welcome,’ adding in siSwazti ‘donations to Royalty would never be stopped’.
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