Lavish lifestyles of Swaziland Royal Family back in spotlight after party video goes viral

The lavish lifestyles of members of the Swaziland (eSwatini) Royal Family are once again under the spotlight after video was posted online showing King Mswati III’s son Prince Majaha being showered with cash at his 30^th birthday party.

King Mswati rules Swaziland as an absolute monarch. In November 2019 he purchased between 13 and 15 luxury Rolls-Royce cars at an estimated cost of up to US$4 million. He also has two private airplanes, at least 13 palaces and fleets of top-of-the-range cars. At his 50th birthday in 2018 he wore a watch worth US$1.6 million and a suit beaded with diamonds that weighed 6 kg. Days earlier he had taken delivery of his second private jet. This one, an Airbus A340, cost US$13.2 to purchase but with VIP upgrades was estimated to have cost US$30 million.

A Facebook page called Swazi Royal Leeches Lifestyle has monitored the lavish spending of the King and numerous of his children. Among other photographs it shows King Mswati’s daughters Siba, Tiyandza and Sikhanyiso with a friend on vacation in Cancun, Mexico. Tiyandza, daughter to King Mswati and Queen LaNgangaza, is wearing a 47 mm 18K Pink Gold Ballon Bleu De Cartier watch worth US$58,500 (E760,500).

Meanwhile, seven in ten of the Swazi population of 1.1 million people live in abject poverty.

The new video shows Prince Majaha smiling and laughing while another prince splashes cash in his direction.

The Economic Freedom Fighters of Swaziland President Ncamiso Ngcamphalala told the Swati Newsweek, a news website, ‘It is embarrassing to see members of the royal family showing off luxurious lifestyle at the expense of more than 60 percent of hungry people of Swaziland. They are showing high levels of arrogance.’

In July 2020, Lisa Peterson, the United States Ambassador to Swaziland called for the kingdom’s constitution to be changed to stop King Mswati’s lavish spending.

She said the US had given more than half a billion dollars in assistance to eSwatini over the past 15 years. ‘It does reach a point where you ask yourself why are we putting this money in. Why are my taxpayer’s dollars going to this, my children’s tax dollars, heaven forbid, my grandchildren’s tax dollars go to pay for healthcare in this country when someone [the King] clearly has a lot of money and doesn’t quite seem to know what to do with it all.’

The Ambassador said people needed to send a message to the King, ‘We expect you to behave the way the rest of us have to behave.’

 

 

See also

U.S. Ambassador to Swaziland wants constitutional change to stop King’s lavish spending 

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/07/us-ambassador-to-swaziland-wants.html

 

World Food Program falls short in fundraising as hunger grips Swaziland and King spends lavishly on himself 

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/07/world-food-program-falls-short-in.html

 

Swazi King and queens of bling 

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2018/05/swazi-King-and-queens-of-bling.html
 

King wears watch worth US$1.6-million

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/King-wears-watch-worth-us16-million.html

 

King wears suit beaded with diamonds

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2018/04/swazi-King-wears-suit-of-diamonds.html 

 

Swazi royals spend, spend, spend

https://swazimedia.blogspot.co.uk/2018/05/swazi-royals-spend-spend-spend.html

Likely new U.S. Ambassador to Swaziland will press for political reform in kingdom

Jeanne Marie Maloney, the woman who is set to become the next United States Ambassador to Swaziland (eSwatini), has pledged to press the kingdom on political reform.

She told a US Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing that if her nomination for the position was confirmed, ‘I will continue to engage broadly on the need for political reform, open discourse, transparency, and inclusivity.’

She added, ‘I am committed to working to improve democracy, governance, and transparency, in order to help create an economic climate that benefits the entire population.’

King Mswati III rules Swaziland as an absolute monarch. Political parties are banned from taking part in elections and the King appoints the Prime Minister and Cabinet ministers. He also appoints top judges and public servants.

If confirmed, as expected, Maloney would replace Ambassador Lisa Peterson who has angered the King’s supporters by publicly calling for political parties to be allowed to contest elections and for highlighting the lavish lifestyles of the King and members of his family while the majority of Swazi people live in abject poverty. She has also called for constitutional changes to rein in the King.

Maloney told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday (6 August 2020), ‘I will also seek to expand our dialogue with the country’s youth, who make up more than half the population.’ 

She added, ‘The percentage of its population living in poverty remains stubbornly high. If confirmed, it will be important to coordinate with international organizations like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, as well as like-minded partners to help eSwatini create an environment that fosters broad-based economic growth and opportunities for US trade and investment.’

She said, ‘I will do my best to continue to strengthen our partnership with the Government and the people of eSwatini in support of US goals and interests.’

In a profile published on the US Department of State website Maloney is described as a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. She most recently served as the Foreign Policy Advisor to the US Army Africa in Vicenza, Italy.  Previously, she was the Director of the Office of Security Affairs in the Department of State’s Bureau of African Affairs.  

 

Jeanne Marie Maloney

Maloney has served in a broad range of leadership positions over the course of her 26-year career. ‘Her knowledge of issues affecting the African region, demonstrated record of leadership, and success working with interagency and foreign partners make her well-qualified to serve as US Ambassador to the Kingdom of eSwatini,’ the website states.

See also

U.S. Ambassador to Swaziland wants constitutional change to stop King’s lavish spending

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2020/07/us-ambassador-to-swaziland-wants.html

U.S. Ambassador to Swaziland renews criticism of King’s lavish spending while people live in poverty

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/12/us-ambassador-to-swaziland-renews.html

Threat to censor U.S. Ambassador to Swaziland after criticism of King’s lavish spending

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2019/11/threat-to-censor-us-ambassador-to.html

U.S. Ambassador calls for repeal of decree that makes Swaziland an absolute monarchy

https://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2018/11/us-ambassador-calls-for-repeal-of.html