HUNGER SPURS ON KING’S CROWD

Just how many of the supposed 20,000 people (or 30,000, depending on which Swazi newspaper you read) who went to hear King Mswati III announce the illegal appointment of new Swaziland Prime Minister Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini were really interested in the King?

The Swazi Observer reported today (17 October 2008) on the crowds who were kept waiting for more than six hours before the King and his party arrived at the Ludzidzini cattle byre. Many of them complained that they were not getting the food they had been promised. One man ate cattle dung as a protest.

The newspaper reports that sections of the crowd became angry and complained of hunger.

Organisers treated the crowd as if they were animals by throwing food in the air for them to catch.

The Times of Swaziland reported today, ‘Police and warders strangely threw the juice, soft drinks and bread up in the air for people to catch, thus causing a survival of the fittest situation. Those fit were able to catch more food than the weak, especially women, who were heard complaining that they were being made to fight for the king’s food, something that they had never seen before.’

The Times went on, ‘Police officers had to use force in preventing the people from looting the food as they became impatient with having to watch the strong ones getting all the food.

‘Some decided to leave without having eaten as they failed toget any and they cursed those who were distributing the food.’

In Swaziland, 65 percent of the population has received food aid from international agencies this year and four in ten people are reported to be moving from hunger to starvation. Is it any wonder they turn out in their numbers and will fight for food?

If the people had full bellies would so many cheer for the King?