Police officers and support staff in Swaziland are
being told they must contribute cash towards the cost of the 50/50 celebration
to mark the autocratic King Mswati III’s 50th birthday and the 50th
anniversary of the kingdom’s independence from Great Britain.
The Times of
Swaziland, the only independent daily newspaper in the kingdom, reported on
Monday (12 March 2018) that Royal Swaziland Police ‘administration’ had made
the directive.
It reported, ‘Information gathered was that contributions
to be made by police officers would differ according to ranks and at the bottom
are support staff members who are supposed to fork out E10 each while a recruit
would part with E30.
‘A police officer holding the rank of a constable will
have to contribute E50, E100 for sergeants and E150 for assistant inspectors.
Inspectors and assistant superintendents will contribute E200 and E300
respectively while superintendents will fork out E400.’
The newspaper reported the directive was received with
‘mixed feelings’. Some supported the idea and said they would contribute more
than the minimum ordered. Others said it should not have been made compulsory.
A major celebration is planned for 19 April 2018 at
Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre.
A call had already gone out to the business community, institutions and
individuals to make donations of up to E1 million (US$84,000) and beyond. It has already been
announced that a budget of the equivalent of US$1.7 million has been earmarked
by the Swazi government for the celebration. The Taiwan
Government has
donated US$1.3 million.
When similar celebrations took place in 2008 the cost
of the so-called 40/40 celebrations overran by E32.6 million (about US$5
million at the then exchange rate). E17 million was budgeted but it ended up
costing ‘at least’ E50.2 million. The exact figure is uncertain.
See also
CALL FOR CASH TO FUND 50/50 CELEBRATIONS
50/50: LEARN LESSON OF PAST DISASTER
https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/5050-learn-lesson-of-past-disaster.html
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