King Mswati III’s
US$3.6 million birthday party was privately sponsored and did not cost the
Swazi people anything, the government has claimed.
Estimates of the
costs of the birthday party held on 19 April 2013 vary between E10 million and
E33 million (US$3.6 million), but Percy Simelane, the official government spokesperson
said this money did not come out of the kingdom’s budget for celebrations and
national events.
He told Voice of America radio, ‘The king’s birthday was privately sponsored this year, as [was]
the case was last year.’
He added, ‘The
budget for this year’s celebrations and national events was [$1,027,551]. There
is just no way that [$3 million] could come from [$1,027,551].’
He did not say
who sponsored the event.
Last year King Mswati,
who rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, was
embroiled in controversy when it emerged that he had received a McDonnell
Douglas DC-9 twin-engine private jet, costing
an estimated US$46 million. Government
said it was given to him by private sponsors, but refused to name them, leading
to speculation that it was paid for out of public funds.
Simelane made his latest revelation in response to a pay
claim from public sector works. They want improved living conditions, and say
the extravagant celebrations held for the king’s 45th birthday were an
indication that the economy had improved.
Days before the
king’s birthday, the People’s United Democratic
Movement (PUDEMO), a banned political party in Swaziland, reported 32 BMW cars
had been delivered to the King.
See also
KING GETS 32 BMW
CARS FOR HIS BIRTHDAY
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