Swaziland’s Parliament has been called into special session to review its rejection of plans to buy a $45-million private jet for the impoverished country’s king.
The government in the absolute monarchy announced on Monday it was buying the jet despite Parliament’s objections.
At the same time, Cabinet officials lobbied legislators to revisit their decision last month to cancel the jet deal.
Parliament had said the purchase would be a massive drain on the ailing economy.
An estimated 270 000 of Swaziland’s one million people face hunger this year in a food shortage affecting southern Africa.
Several Parliamentarians have already said they would not change their minds when the legislature meets again Monday.
Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini said on Friday the customised jet was now ready and waiting to be delivered.
The Cabinet had previously promised to cancel the jet purchase, which costs nine times the national deficit, amid a storm of criticism by foreign donors and legislators furious about the government’s priorities.
Western governments were angry at the revival of the jet purchase.
”Swaziland has other issues, which need a lot more urgency than the purchase of the aircraft,” said British High Commissioner David Reader, who is also an EU representative.
US Ambassador James McGee said the jet purchase showed the Swazi government’s lack of commitment to its urgent problems.
”It is not clear to me that the decision to proceed with the jet is supported by a majority within government or by the people of Swaziland,” he said.
Council of Non-Governmental Organisations leader Nohlanhla Hleta said the purchase sent the message that the desperately poor country had plenty of money and no longer required foreign aid. – Sapa-AP