Swaziland’s Ministry of
Public Works and Transport Principal Secretary Makhosini Mndawe has denied that
the government bought a fleet of cars worth US$7.5 million ahead of King Mswati
III’s 50th birthday.
Swaziland marks the King’s
birthday and the 50th anniversary of Independence from Great Britain
on 19 April 2018 in the so-called 50/50 Celebration.
The Sunday Observer (8 April 2018), a newspaper in effect owned by the
King who rules Swaziland as an absolute monarch, reported Mndawe said
dignitaries at the party would be chauffeured in the top-of-the-range BMW 740i
sedans that were purchased for the Southern African Development
Community (SADC) Summit held in 2016.
The newspaper quoted him
saying, ‘The ministry has not purchased any vehicles for the 50/50
celebrations. Invited heads of state will be ferried in the vehicles that were
used during the SADC summit.’
On 11 March 2018, the Times Sunday, an independent newspaper in Swaziland, reported the
Ministry of Public Works and Transport announced the E89 million (US$7.5
million) purchase of the luxury BMW cars in a report tabled in parliament. It
said the cars would be used by the Close Protection Unit which is responsible
for protecting dignitaries.
The newspaper did not say how many vehicles were
purchased. The cars were bought through the government’s Central Transport
Administration (CTA), it said.
See also
PROTEST PREPARED FOR KING’S BIRTHDAY
MORE SWAZI KING’S BIRTHDAY EXCESSES
POOR
AND SICK PAY FOR KING’S BIRTHDAY
KING’S
BIRTHDAY CASH ‘LOOTED’
SOLDIERS
FORCED TO PAY FOR KING’S PARTY
50/50
CELEBRATION BUSTS BUDGET
POLICE FORCED TO PAY FOR 50/50 JUBILEE
CALL FOR CASH TO FUND 50/50 CELEBRATIONS
50/50: LEARN LESSON OF PAST DISASTER
TOWN TIDIES UP FOR KING’S BIRTHDAY
https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2018/03/town-tidies-up-for-kings-birthday.html
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