Mbabane, ESWATINI:
King Mswati III, the ruler of poverty-stricken African nation Eswatini, has been accused of ‘showing the middle finger’ to his subjects as he flaunts his lavish car collection.
Eswatini, known until last year as Swaziland, is a developing country with a comparatively small economy. The average salary in the country is estimated at around £10,000 – meaning that most Swazis would have to work all their lives to get even near owning a Rolls Royce.
Mswati III has this week imported 19 Rollers for his personal use and has reportedly also bought 120 BMWs.
Opposition politician Wandile Dludlu condemned the king’s purchase of these luxury vehicles.
"Last week, a total of 19 Rolls-Royce cars were delivered to Swaziland for the exclusive use of the king, his mother and his wives,"
said.
said.
"According to reports, some of these cars are for his motorcade and the exclusive use of his children.
“To say this is a blatant display of arrogance and total disregard of the poor people of Swaziland’s feelings by the monarch would be an understatement,"
he said.
he said.
"He is basically showing them a middle finger and proving to all and sundry that he is a law unto himself.”
The King already owns two private jets, as well as a $625,000 Rolls Royce, a $500,000 Maybach 62, a BMW X6 and a fleet of 20 Mercedes Benz S600 Pullman.
Mr Dludlu contrasted the King’s extravagance with the serious financial problems facing the country:
"In Swaziland, public sector workers have not received salary adjustments in three years and the health system has totally collapsed, rendering the poorest of the poor vulnerable,"
he said.
"In Swaziland, public sector workers have not received salary adjustments in three years and the health system has totally collapsed, rendering the poorest of the poor vulnerable,"
he said.
Public health is a major issue in the country. It is estimated that 26% of the adult population is HIV-positive and average life expectancy is one of the lowest in the world, at just 58.
Mr Dludlu says that Mswati is spoiling himself and his family, while remaining oblivious to the problems of his subjects.
In a written answer to a parliamentary question in 2017, the Minister in the Department for International Development at the time, Alistair Burt, said that the total amount of UK Net Official Development Assistance given to Swaziland since 1997 was £6.8 million.
Birds of same feathers no wonder we have a corrupt and wasteful President because these two guys are friends
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