The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) on Thursday condemned King Mswati III’s planned spending of R15-million on his birthday bash.
The 39-year-old last absolute monarch in Africa plans to celebrate his birthday at Emalangeni.
The SSN said it is concerned about the king’s spending while 42% of the country’s population is HIV-positive, more than 46% unemployed and there is a need for extensive food aid.
”South Africa should use its position in the Southern Africa Customs Union to encourage accountable spending by the monarchy,” the SSN said.
It said South Africa should encourage Swaziland to accept the African peer-review mechanism of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) as a step toward ensuring good political, economic and corporate governance.
The SSN called for the elimination of all vestiges of the 1973 state of emergency, including the removal of the king’s arbitrary powers over the legislature and judiciary and his right to appoint the prime minister and the Cabinet.
It said the country needs a directly elected House of Assembly with oversight of royal spending and an elected prime minister as head of government.
The SSN added the international community should play an active role in encouraging democracy in Swaziland. — Sapa