Askari Kanzu
JF-Expert Member
- Jan 7, 2011
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Wivu wa wageni umetufanya tuwe masikini - adai Mfalme Mswati!
'Jealous foreigners made us poor'
By Sandile Lukhele
Swaziland King Mswati III
Swaziland's absolute monarch, King Mswati III, has blamed foreigners who are jealous of his rule for his country's economic troubles, in his annual State of the Kingdom address to hundreds of traditional warriors.
Speaking in Swati at Engabezweni royal village, 30km east of Mbabane, Mswati described his critics as timfu mona (jealous people) who wish to see Swaziland collapse.
What is really surprising is that some of these people are our own (Swazis) who are assisting those who want to bury the country, Mswati said, referring to pro-democracy groups who, although banned in Swaziland, have become more vocal this year.
Mswati gives three scheduled speeches a year: on his birthday in April, a declared national holiday; at the opening of Parliament in February; and when he dismisses the traditional warrior regiments after they have completed a month of tribute labour.
Of these, only his speech to the warriors is unscripted and is believed by political observers to express Mswati's true mood and opinions.
In an oblique reference to the International Monetary Fund, Mswati slammed economic experts for recommending a cut in the country's public sector workforce. Swaziland has Africa's largest public service proportionate to population and GDP, and it is used for patronage jobs and to reward supporters of the monarchy.
They shot at us with bow arrows, making all sorts of statements about the country, Mswati told his traditional regiments.
When they see their arrows falling short they will get discouraged and we will be victorious.
-REUTERS
'Jealous foreigners made us poor'
By Sandile Lukhele
Swaziland King Mswati IIISwaziland's absolute monarch, King Mswati III, has blamed foreigners who are jealous of his rule for his country's economic troubles, in his annual State of the Kingdom address to hundreds of traditional warriors.
Speaking in Swati at Engabezweni royal village, 30km east of Mbabane, Mswati described his critics as timfu mona (jealous people) who wish to see Swaziland collapse.
What is really surprising is that some of these people are our own (Swazis) who are assisting those who want to bury the country, Mswati said, referring to pro-democracy groups who, although banned in Swaziland, have become more vocal this year.
Mswati gives three scheduled speeches a year: on his birthday in April, a declared national holiday; at the opening of Parliament in February; and when he dismisses the traditional warrior regiments after they have completed a month of tribute labour.
Of these, only his speech to the warriors is unscripted and is believed by political observers to express Mswati's true mood and opinions.
In an oblique reference to the International Monetary Fund, Mswati slammed economic experts for recommending a cut in the country's public sector workforce. Swaziland has Africa's largest public service proportionate to population and GDP, and it is used for patronage jobs and to reward supporters of the monarchy.
They shot at us with bow arrows, making all sorts of statements about the country, Mswati told his traditional regiments.
When they see their arrows falling short they will get discouraged and we will be victorious.
-REUTERS
