Police and army forces in Swaziland have been preventing people from photographing the jet recently gifted to King Mswati III.
Intense speculation surrounds who gave the King, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, the jet, an updated DC9 – sometimes known as an MD-87. Barnabas Dlamini, the Swazi Prime Minister, claimed it was given by ‘development partners’ of Swaziland.
This led to intense speculation that funds meant for the poor had been diverted to the King’s personal use.
Last week it was reported that Salgaocar, an Indian-based multinational conglomerate that had recently received valuable mining rights in Swaziland, gave the King the jet. Salgaocar has been quizzed by journalists on a number of occasions and has not denied it is the donor. It has not, however, admitted it either.
Despite the attempts of the security forces in Swaziland, photographs of the King’s new plane are available – see below.
See also
NEW DENIAL ON KING’S JET GIFT
PRIVATE FIRM GAVE KING HIS JET
KING TO MAKE US$100m FROM JET FIRM
A quick check of the FAA register using the number N871SG clearly visible in the photograph reveals a little information about the former owners of the aircraft.
ReplyDeletehttp://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N871SG
Manufactured in 1991, former registered owner Wells Fargo Bank, based in Salt Lake City, Utah.It's a DC-9-87 with Pratt and Whitney engines. US registration cancelled on 27/4/12.