Daily Nation:*- Africa*|Mswati must learn new lessons
At 18, Mswati ascended to the throne—or rather a kingdom was entrusted to a schoolboy’s care—in 1986. He maintained his father’s, King Sobhuza II, traditions from a bygone era.
Monarchs peddle privileges as real work. Mswati’s “working” includes collecting expensive cars, building million-dollar palaces, issuing decrees, grabbing reportedly the kingdom’s $446 million for royalty and retinue spending last year.
The apex of royal job performance is an annual ogling at bare-breasted virgins and occasional choice of a wife, now numbering 14, some wayward to quench matrimonial thirst. Somehow, the king has acquired assets reportedly worth $100 million.
Twice, in May and June demonstrators hit the streets. They reminded the king they weren’t all that happy. He replied by sending emissaries to empower the unhappy subjects with tear gas.
The Swazi people love their king. They can also love a queen. A potential candidate exists.
The Courier Pigeon newspaper in Australia last week reported that a Swazi student pursuing a Master’s in digital communications hits the books hard and saunters, co-ed style, at Sydney University.
She makes her bed and fries her eggs. Reportedly she doesn’t care much about some traditional Swazi antics. She’s Mswati’s oldest daughter.