King Mswati III of
Swaziland is trying to do a business deal with an American conglomerate that
has been in bankruptcy protection for two years after owing US$18 billion.
He wants Caesars Palace,
famous for its casinos, to run the proposed International Convention Centre
(ICC) and hotel in Ezulwini.
The Swazi Observer, a newspaper in effect owned by the King who is
sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, reported on Thursday (28 September
2017) that he and government ministers had discussed with Caesars Palace management
at the hotel in Las Vegas a plan for the potential of the proposed ICC.
The Observer reported, ‘The meeting took place after an hour’s tour of
the hotel yesterday where His Majesty the King was given a full display of what
it has to offer by President of Caesars Palace Gary Selesner. The main
attraction is the gaming at the Casinos. The hotel also has state of the art
entertainment facilities and meeting halls.’
The newspaper devoted part
of its front page to the visit and also published a story with four photographs
of the meeting inside written by‘The King’s Office Correspondent.’ It said the Caesars
Palace management had promised to submit a proposal on what it
would cost to manage the ICC and hotel.
The report said Caesars had
grown through development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions, and now
operates casinos on three continents.
What it did not report (but
the information is freely available) was that Caesars Entertainment Operating
Corp (Caesars Palace’s main operating unit) filed in the United States for Chapter
11 bankruptcy protection in January 2015 to protect itself from creditors who
were owed US$18 billion. In January 2017 Reuters news agency reported
that a deal had been made with courts to shed US$10 billion of the debt. The
company will be reorganised as part of the deal.
In a report on media freedom
in Swaziland in 2013, the Media Institute of Southern Africa described the Swazi Observer as a ‘pure propaganda machine for the royal family’.
Members of the Swazi Royal
Family are no strangers to Las Vegas. In 2012 it was reported
that three of the King’s wives (who at the time numbered 13) travelled to
Las Vegas with an entourage of about 65 people on a multimillion-dollar
spending spree and vacation. They reportedly stayed in 10 separate villas
– each costing E20,000 (US$2,400) per night.
The Queens on the trip were named by the Mail and Guardian newspaper in South
Africa as LaNgangaza née Carol Dlamini, LaMagongo née Nontsetselo Magongo and
LaNkambule née Phindile Nkambule.
Reports said the trip would cost the Swazi taxpayers
at least E36 million (US$4.6 million). Seven in ten of the King’s subjects
live in abject poverty, with incomes of less than US$2 a day. Political parties
are banned in the kingdom and all forms of prodemocracy protest are quashed by
state forces.
The Mail and Guardian reported at the time that funding for the trip
was supplemented by money from the national fund Tibiyo which is supposed to be
held in trust for the nation. A ‘large sum of cash’ was understood to have been
withdrawn, it said.
The plan for the E1 billion
ICC that includes a five-star hotel is being led by the Government of Swaziland
through the Millennium Projects Management Unit within the Ministry of Economic
Planning and Development. Government has said it will fund the project.
It is proposed the centre
will be able to accommodate 4,500 guests at any one time and include a secure
chamber room to take 53 heads of state. Other features include a 3,500-seat
banqueting hall and a 1,500-seat theatre. It is proposed the centre will be
completed ahead of the African Union summit due to be held in Swaziland in
2020.
See also
SWAZI
QUEENS OFF ON SHOPPING SPREE
SWAZI QUEENS’ HISTORY OF EXCESS
QUEENS ON US$10 MILLION VACATION
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