For the first time in the history of the kingdom, its regiments have failed to turn up to harvest Royal soghum fields in large numbers, the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) reports today (12 May 2011).
SSN says, ‘The reason for this "literal cultural boycott" is not known. However, sources close to the story say it is due to the fact that they were not paid allowances in their last royal assignment.
‘This has left royal insiders fuming at the prospect that the royal fields might end up not being harvested on time.
‘The royal family has long used these events as proof that Swazis love their king, even as these crowds were effectively rented.
The cultural Prime Minister, T.V. Mthethwa last evening promised to crack the whip on chiefs who failed to bring their subjects to the harvest.’
SSN says it welcomes this bold stance by the regiments and will leave no stone unturned in its quest to see to it that no Swazi is threatened with eviction or forced otherwise to participate in what it calls King Mswati III’s ‘failed propaganda campaign’.
(Originally posted Thursday 12 May 2011).
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