A newspaper in Swaziland in
effect owned by autocratic monarch King Mswati III has accused the government
of defying the King’s orders over the kingdom’s national budget.
The Observer on Saturday (part of the Swazi Observer group) said the
government ministers defied the King’s ‘command’. It said a command from the
King was ‘usually followed to the letter’.
The Observer is on record saying it will
always support the King. The Media Institute of Southern Africa
(MISA) in a report on press freedom in Swaziland once called the Observer a ‘pure propaganda machine for the royal family’.
The Observer reported on Saturday (3 March 2018), ‘In a move that has
been seen as defiance to His Majesty King Mswati III, Cabinet has delivered a
budget that is short of the King’s command on two major areas that pertain to
capital projects.’
It added the King had given
instructions during his speech from the throne opening Parliament on 16
February 2018 that certain projects ‘would definitely be undertaken’.
The newspaper added, ‘These projects include the new Parliament building,
which Cabinet has deferred to the future and the national stadium which has
also not been included in the Budget.
‘Usually a command by the
King is followed to the letter hence it is surprising to a number of
commentators how an oversight like that could occur or the projects have been
left on purpose.’
Political parties in
Swaziland are banned from taking part in elections and the King appoints
government ministers. The Prime Minister Barnabas Dlamini has never been
elected to Parliament.
See also
KINGDOM GETS 3/100 ON BUDGET OPENNESS
GOVT
BREAKS OWN LAW ON SPENDING
SWAZI
MPs REJECT NATIONAL BUDGET
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