King Mswati III of Swaziland
demonstrated on Thursday his ability to rule as an autocratic monarch by unilaterally
renaming his kingdom on his 50th birthday.
His surprise command came during his speech at a celebration that had largely gone unheralded outside
of the tiny impoverished kingdom.
The King wearing a red military
uniform spoke at what had become known as the 50/50 Celebration to mark both his
birthday and the 50th anniversary of Swaziland’s Independence from
Great Britain that falls on 6 September 2018.
The Kings proclamation
might prove to be unconstitutional, but
he has shown little respect for the Swaziland Constitution that was adopted
in 2005 and came into effect a year later.
The King said Swaziland
would now be called ‘the Kingdom of eSwatini’. He had been using this name for
some years, even when addressing international bodies such as the United
Nations, but his kingdom was always known officially as ‘The Kingdom of
Swaziland.’
Chris Fitch, one of the few
journalists from a global media organisation present at the speech which was
made at the Mavuso stadium in Manzini, Swaziland, reported
on the Geographical website, King Mswati told his audience, ‘As we
are aware the name “Swaziland” was inherited from the British. If we are to
give true meaning to our independence, time has come to give our country a name
of its people. It must be said that this process is long overdue, particularly
if you consider how other countries in the region localised their names after
independence.’
Fitch reported, ‘After the
modest whistles that greeted most of the King’s pronouncements, the flag-waving crowd saved their loudest
cheers for the declaration that the country would revert to their
indigenous name. “I have the pleasure to present to you,” he declared, “on
this historic day, a new name for the kingdom. Our country will now be called —
the Kingdom of eSwatini”’.
The announcement from the
King was widely derided on social media with posters debating new names for institutions
such as the Royal Swazi Police and the University of Swaziland. Thursday (19
April 2018) and Friday are public holidays in Swaziland so the heavily-censored
media in the kingdom itself have yet to report on the name change, but it is
expected they will give enthusiastic support to the move.
Days before the 50/50
Celebration the King had given himself a birthday present when he took delivery
of his second private jet – this one an A340-300 Airbus – that might have cost
as much as US$30
million, paid for out of public funds.
Seven in ten of his 1.1
million subjects live in abject poverty with incomes less than the equivalent
of US$2 per day.
In Swaziland, political
parties are not allowed to contest elections and the King chooses the Prime Minister
and government. He also chooses the heads of the army and police force.
Opposition voices are silenced by the Suppression of Terrorism Act.
See also
SECRECY OVER COST OF KING’S NEW JET
‘NO COMMONWEALTH HEADS AT 50/50’
THOUSANDS PROTEST IN SWAZILAND
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