A huge party to mark the Swaziland king’s 36th birthday has been criticised as a big waste of money. On Monday, 10,000 guests gathered in the national football stadium for the event hosted by Africa’s last absolute monarch, King Mswati III.
| I've actually got a soft spot for King Mswati, ever since he ordered that Swazi women not wear pants. But that's probably just my particular perversion... |
Critics say the country, ravaged by Aids and unemployment, could ill afford the estimated $600,000 cost of the do. Opposition leader Mario Masuku, told the BBC he thought the government should have been more sensitive. "The king could have had a private party of his own. The money comes from the tax payer," said the president of the banned Pudemo party. The day was a public holiday and the event was shown live on national television for those unable to attend the party. "Everybody has the right to utilise his own hard-earned resources for his enjoyment," he told the Network Africa programme. "However, the people of Swaziland can hardly afford a birthday party that costs so much," he said. In recent months, King Mswati III has been heavily criticised for requesting large sums of public money to pay for new palaces and a personal jet.
Palaces, you say? Sounds like another budding Saddam to me.
| I think it's more like Soddy Arabia would be, if they weren't Islamic. And mostly desert. And no oil. And the women didn't wear any pants... |
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