HIV WONDER DRUG ‘IS BOGUS’

Claims that a ‘wonder drug’ on sale in Swaziland can cure HIV are unfounded, an investigation has uncovered.

The Times of Swaziland, the only independent daily newspaper in the kingdom, reported last month (November 2013) that a herbal product called 3H, sold by HHH Nature Health, could cure HIV in three months.

The newspaper gave details of a doctor in Manzini who was prescribing the product, which the Times called a ‘wonder drug’. It published testimonials from people (but did not give their real names) that the product ‘really worked’.

The Times reported, ‘Promoters of this product have said it only takes three months for an HIV patient using this product to get well, with the virus no longer detectable from their body.’

The Times gave a website address where readers could buy the formula. A four-month supply of the herbal product costs 2,400 euros (E34,000 or US$3,200).

Now, investigators from the Africa Check, a fact-checking website, have shown that 3H, along with other so-called HIV ‘cures’, are not what they seem.

The Times reported that the makers of the herbal formula 3H said it was ‘developed and researched by a team of German scientists and doctors’.

Responding to the Times’ report, Africa Check said, ‘This might sound impressive at first glance but means nothing, as is often the case. Having a treatment tested is not the same as having proof that it works. How it is tested and by whom is key.’

None of this information about testing is supplied by HHH. Africa Check added, ‘Instead, the main “evidence” promoted by the sellers of these products is formed of unverifiable “testimonials” from people who report or claim to be progressing “very well” and praise the promoters.’

HIV scams are nothing new in Swaziland, which has the highest rate of HIV infection in the world. King Mswati III himself was caught up in one. The King endorsed a goat serum scam that was being peddled by his son Prince Lindani.

The scam was to sell goat serum that was ‘totally reliable in the cure of Aids’. It involved injecting goats with HIV and creating antibodies which were then injected into people with AIDS. The scam was set to make its promoters US$100 million.

The prince even wrote a letter that was used by the fraudsters in their publicity saying his father the King backed the project.

The prince was not at the centre of the fraud: he was just a gullible dupe who got conned.

PRINCESS ON TV: BLUSHES ALL ROUND

Australia’s Channel Nine Network Television embarrassed itself on Saturday (5 May 2012) when it interviewed Princess Sikhanyiso of Swaziland.

It took four people to interview the Princess, another woman they described as THE Queen of Swaziland and the princess’ dopey brother, Prince Lindani.

And they blundered their way along a five minute interview.

Princess Sikhanyiso is KingMswati’s eldest child and ‘the queen of Swaziland’ was her mother Inkhosikati LaMbikiza. She is King Mswati’s first wife, but he has 13 in total. At least one of them is younger than his eldest daughter.

The interview was to mark the graduation from Sydney University of Princess Sikhanyiso. She has just received a Masters in Digital Communication.

The interview was on the Nine Network’s Weekend TODAY breakfast show. Prince Lindani sat silent for the most part, hiding behind his sunglasses. He only woke up when one interviewer asked him to show his enormous bling wristwatch to the camera.

Princess Sikhanyiso was described as ‘well loved’ by the Swazi people. Even she was embarrassed by this – and anyone who has followed her so-called career in rap music will know she is usually incapable of embarrassment. ‘I’m well-loved in Australia too,’ she whimpered.

The interviewers had no clue that King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, and his Royal family live life high on the hog, while seven in ten of his subjects live in absolute poverty, earning less than two US dollars a day. Nor, did they realise they were perpetuating a myth about the Swazi Royal Family that they are loved by the Swazi people.

Only last week a Gallup opinion poll revealed that 43 percent of the people interviewed disapprove of the way the King runs the kingdom.

The interview ended with Princess Sikhanyiso performing a rap song.

If you have a high embarrassment threshold, you can watch the full interview by clicking here. 

(Pictured. The Princess, her mother and the Prince on Australian TV. Picture: Screen grab)

See also

SWAZI PRINCESS FACEBOOK BLUNDER

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2012/05/swazi-princess-facebook-blunder_08.html

CALL FOR SPORT AND CULTURE BOYCOTT

The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) calls today (7 May 2011) for a complete cultural and sporting boycott of Swaziland in support of political change.

This comes after a recent successful boycott of a Jadakiss concert organised for Prince Lindani, the eldest son of King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch.

Yesterday, the Swaziland Democracy Campaign called for a boycott of the Bush Fire Festival planned for Swaziland later this month.

SSN released the following statement today.

SOURCE

7 May 2011

SWAZILAND’S CULTURAL BOYCOTT

The Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN] is extremely proud of the South African artists who put their careers on the line by boycotting the recent Jadakiss concert organised by the Swazi royal family. Having begged heads of states for so long to take a principled stand against human rights abuses, it is humbling to see ordinary people taking a lead and doing this. Our common Nguni language teaches us that “Ubudoda abukhulelwa.”

LEGAL ACTION

It has since come to our attention that the Swazi Royal family has taken these artists to court in order to force them to return the money that was paid to them in advance. As long as the royal family parasitically depends on the nation’s already depleted resources for its upkeep, they should not be given that money back.

Taking cue from the very controversial case when the same royal family, through its government minions, deposited money to buy a jet, we urge these artists to use the money to organise the Swaziland Solidarity concert. Proceeds from this concert will be donated to charitable causes in Swaziland.

THE BUSH FIRE FESTIVAL

The Swaziland bush fire festival is not a charity project as its organisers claim. It is a profit driven event like any other. We know this as a fact. It is wrong to dress up an event as being completely dedicated to charity just to avoid a boycott that is meant for an even bigger cause.

It is paternalistic to keep giving Swazis hand outs when we should be helping them get rid of their political oppression so that they can do things for themselves. This is the least that we can do. There cannot be any festivals and dancing in the country while the country’s authorities hold Swazi children in their jails under trumped up charges just so they can frustrate their political ambitions.

Human rights abuses and political repression are getting worse in Swaziland and the way that the recent peaceful protests were brutally suppressed, with cases of rape and torture, do not allow us to turn a blind eye on the country.

CULTURAL BOYCOTT

Concerned human beings must bar Swaziland from cultural and sporting activities. This is a stand that the world took against Apartheid South Africa and it helped to put pressure on the ruling regime.

We wish to once again thank those who understand that Human rights come before profits. Although the world may not recognise them as heroes, to the people that they provide solidarity to, they are the closest of brothers.

Issued by Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN]

See also

‘BOYCOTT SWAZI BUSHFIRE FESTIVAL’

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/05/boycott-swazi-bushfire-festival.html

ROYAL CONCERT BOYCOTT DETAILS

http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2011/05/royal-concert-boycott-details.html

'BOYCOTT SWAZI BUSHFIRE FESTIVAL'

Swazi democracy activists are calling for artists and fans to boycott Swaziland’s world-renowned Bushfire Festival later this month - they say that performing in the crisis-stricken country would send out the wrong message, the Mail and Guardian, South Africa reports today (6 May 2011).

The annual music, poetry, dance and art event, planned for 27 – 29 May, attracts people from around the world and is seen as a highlight of Swaziland’s social calendar, second only to the Reed Dance.

Top acts this year include South Africa’s Goldfish and Black Coffee, Oliver ‘Tuku’ Mtukudzi from Zimbabwe, Habib Koité from Mali, the Yale Concert Band from the United States and France's Mime Decol.

Mary Pais da Silva, co-ordinator of the Swaziland Democracy Campaign, said, ‘The point is to raise as much awareness as possible. We can’t just continue going on as if Swaziland is a normal place. We want to send a strong message to the government and the rest of the country. There are some people who appear to not be bothered by what is happening in our country, but we hope this will make them sit up and listen.’

Last month trade unions, students and pro-democracy campaigners tried to hold a mass protest to call for change, but they were dispersed by the police, who fired teargas and water cannons and detained more than 100 people. Two youth leaders still in custody have been charged with possession of explosives. Last week police staged a dawn raid on the home of high-profile union member Simon Mvubu and questioned him about his connections to a Facebook group promoting an uprising.

Last week a delegation of advocates from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Lawyers’ Association went to the country on a fact-finding mission to prepare a report for the next regional bloc meeting.

Last month, pro-democracy activists successfully campaigned for a boycott of a festival organised for Prince Lindani, the eldest son of King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch. South Africa’s ANC Youth League (ANCYL) called on artists and others to boycott the event.

ROYAL CONCERT BOYCOTT DETAILS

Times Live, South Africa

30 April 2011

SOURCE

Song and dance as ANCYL bans concert

A Swazi prince is hopping mad after Metro FM radio personality Tbo Touch and other local artists snubbed his benefit concert.

Prince Lindani, 21, the son of King Mswati III, contracted Metro FM's afternoon drive show host to book US rapper Jadakiss and local performers DJ Tira, Teargas and Jozi to perform at a concert which was to have been held on April 23 to raise funds for Swazi charities.

But Jadakiss was the only one to pitch up. Prince Lindani's spokesman, Nokulunga Simelane, claimed that Tbo Touch, whose real name is Thabo Molefe, was paid more than R500,000, but failed to honour the contract.

Simelane said Tbo Touch had informed her a day before the event that the South African artists would not be available because the ANC Youth League had advised them to boycott it.

"We booked all the artists through Tbo Touch's company, Touch Lives, and when we asked for a refund, he told us to go to the ANCYL, as they had stopped them from coming.

"We had dealings with Touch Lives, not the ANCYL. All we want is our money, and if he doesn't give it to us, we will take legal action," said Simelane.

She said Tbo Touch had asked her to contact ANCYL president Julius Malema if she wanted the money back. "I asked him if Malema was his king to tell him what to do."

Four days before the concert date, ANCYL spokesman Floyd Shivambu released a statement asking the artists not to perform in Swaziland because it would be "a celebration of the suffering and starvation of the people of Swaziland by the king, his friends and family".

He said those who did business with the Swazi royal family could not be associated with the ANC.

Tbo Touch confirmed that he obeyed the ANCYL call. "Things were beyond my control. As a loyal South African citizen, there are principles one cannot go against."

He confirmed he had been paid by the prince's foundation to organise the event, but declined to disclose the amount.

Jozi's manager, Lance Stehr, said he would take legal action against the promoters, as his band had been booked "illegally".

Shivambu said Tbo Touch would be discouraged from paying the money back. "That money belongs to the people of Swaziland, and the son of the king has never worked for it."

EDITOR’S NOTE.

In a separate development, the Southern Africa Report says the concert lost a total of more than E15 million (US$2.7 million).

SWAZIS BOYCOTT ROYAL CONCERT

AFP

24 April 2011

SOURCE

Swaziland's monarchy-linked rap concert flops

MBABANE — US rapper Jadakiss gave a concert linked to the embattled royal family early today (24 April 2011), performing in a nearly empty hall in Swaziland's main city Manzini following an opposition boycott call.

The event, billed as a fundraiser for a charity bearing the name of the son of King Mswati III, Lindani, was supposed to start at 6:00 pm Saturday.

But Jadakiss finally took to the stage around 1:00 am Sunday, giving an "excellent" performance to a small audience of under 500 people, including several princes and princesses, according to Mphikhelele Msibi, a reporter of the state-run Observer newspaper.

VIP tickets for the Jadakiss show were sold for 100 dollars (69 euros), the equivalent of a month's salary for many workers in this impoverished African nation.

The banned Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), who had called on young people to shun the "royal" event, hailed the poor turnout as a success.

Several big name South African acts who had been billed to perform -including DJ Tira and Jozi, did not travel to Swaziland for the concert.

Neighbouring South Africa's ruling ANC party's Youth League also called for a boycott of the event, saying it is a "celebration of the suffering and starvation of the people of Swaziland by the king, his friends and family".

"We have no problem with Jadakiss personally we have a problem with taxpayers' money being used to organise activities of this kind," SWAYOCO's national organiser Mxolisi Nghamphalala told AFP, adding: "Jadakiss performed and he got his money."

But he dismissed the concert as "a publicity stunt by the royal family," saying: "It is about winning the hearts and minds of the Swazi youth. Bear in mind the timing -- it comes immediately after April 12th."

On that date Swazi police stopped anti-government protests from going ahead by detaining, beating and tear-gassing demonstrators.

Swaziland's trade unions have embarked on a campaign of mass action demanding that the government step down and that multi-party democracy be introduced in sub-Saharan Africa's last kingdom.

King Mswati III, at 43 Africa's last absolute monarch with a fortune estimated at $100 million by Forbes magazine, has ruled tiny Swaziland for 18 years.

The landlocked country wedged between Mozambique and South Africa is fast running out of money to pay for the day-to-day running of state, including civil servants' salaries.

The economy depends almost entirely on South Africa, which finances most of the Swazi government's income through a regional customs union that sees Pretoria lavish money on its smaller neighbours.

Jadakiss is no stranger to controversy. He attracted criticism in 2004 when the lyrics of his biggest hit "Why?" expressed a belief that former US president George W Bush coordinated the September 11th attacks.