The Prime Minister of
Swaziland (eSwatini) Ambrose Dlamini said that the fleet of 15 Rolls-Royce
vehicles purchased by the kingdom’s absolute monarch King Mswati III were paid
for by private money and not public funds. They were reported to have cost up
to US$4 million.
News of the purchase had been
reported around the world and the King came under heavy criticism for the
lavish spending. It had been reported that Rolls-Royce
had been purchased for the king’s wives.
A few days after the
purchase the King also took delivery of a fleet of 126 BMW vehicles which were
reportedly for ‘escort duties’.
The Times
of eSwatini reported Dlamini told a press conference
on Wednesday (13 November 2019) the Rolls-Royce cars ‘were purchased privately
and not through the public purse and no money from the national budget went to
the purchase of these cars’.
The eSwatini Observer (previously Swazi Observer), a newspaper in effect owned by the king, reported Dlamini warned those who protested against the king were in danger of breaking the kingdom’s Suppression of Terrorism Act. ‘Violators of the law will be prosecuted,’ he said.
The eSwatini Observer (previously Swazi Observer), a newspaper in effect owned by the king, reported Dlamini warned those who protested against the king were in danger of breaking the kingdom’s Suppression of Terrorism Act. ‘Violators of the law will be prosecuted,’ he said.
Swaziland is not a
democracy and political parties are banned from taking part in elections. The king
personally appoints the government, including the Prime Minister.
The Observer
reported,
‘Government, he said, would not tolerate statements that were demeaning to
the person of His Majesty and the institution of the Monarchy.’
On the same day the Prime Minister spoke a march by political
parties protesting against King Mswati and calling for democracy was
stopped by police in Mbabane.
The Times reported the Prime Minister confirmed
that it was responsible for buying 84 BMW cars and 42 BMW motorbikes. The exact
cost of these has not been reported.
‘The purchase of the fleet
came against the backdrop of an ailing economy, where the country was
struggling to meet its obligations,’ the Times reported.
It quoted the Prime
Minister saying, ‘Government receives the public criticism regarding the
purchase of the vehicles given the current financial situation in the
country. It is worth noting that the decision to replace the fleet was
taken in July 2018 before austerity measures were put in place.
‘A commitment was made with
the supplier at that time hence the agreement could not be reversed now as
doing so could lead to litigation which would come with adverse consequences
for government.’
The Times added, ‘Dlamini
said as previously stated, the purchase of this fleet was in line with
government policy to replace cars after five years. He said most of the VIP and
escort vehicles being replaced now were 11 years old and others were no longer
roadworthy, which was a huge cost to government as they had to constantly cater
for the repairs of the cars. He said government saved a lot of money from
having a newer fleet because it came with a warranty and service plan.’
In a
speech the US Ambassador to Swaziland Lisa Peterson criticised the
purchases. She said, ‘While the government continued using its existing vehicle
fleet, the palace sees fit to acquire more than a dozen Rolls-Royce
vehicles with a minimum price tag of E52.5 million. To accompany this
royal fleet, there is now an even larger fleet of official escort vehicles,
purchased with public funds.’
She said, ‘It is
exceedingly difficult for development partners to continue advocating for
assistance to eSwatini when such profligate spending or suspicious giving
is taking place.’
She said, ‘However,
should the people of Eswatini really be comfortable with such disregard for the
perilous fiscal state of the country, particularly with so many of His
Majesty’s subjects living below the international poverty line? Should
people really believe that a possible multi-million dollar gift came without
any strings attached?’
See also
King
of impoverished Swaziland takes delivery of 79 luxury BMW cars worth US$6
million
Threat
to censor U.S. Ambassador to Swaziland after criticism of King’s lavish
spending
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