2005-02-21,+SSNs+Lucky+Lukhele+on+News+24

From News24: http://www.wheels24.co.za/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1662730,00.html
=King is 'a drain on taxpayer'=


 * 15/02/2005 14:50 - (SA)**

Mbabane - The local and international community should take action against Swaziland's King Mswati III's "insensitive expenditure", the Swaziland Solidarity Network said on Tuesday.

This comes after the monarch spent R5m on 10 BMWs for his wives and R6 million on a Chrysler Maybach for himself.

"With this act, it is time now that South Africans and the world at large intensify their solidarity with the poor people of Swaziland and support for the struggle for the democratisation their country," SSN spokesperson Lucky Lukhele said.

He said Mswati's recent purchases came as 70% of the country lived below the poverty line and the elderly and disabled had no social policy to count on.

An SSN list of expenditure by "a king who has huge appetite for material desires and women abuse in the holy name of Swazi culture" included millions on an entourage of 35 to Japan last year, on the king and queen's birthday celebrations, and even more to buy vehicles and houses for the wives of his late father.
 * Huge appetite**

He also committed the country to a €28m deposit for the purchase of a jet and has constructed a clinic for royalty and their guests.

"These expenditures are not debated openly, but are dictated from the top. There is no chance of resistance. The poor tax-payer is forced to pay," Lukhele's statement continued.

He said HIV/Aids prevalence was "knocking on the 40% mark" and you could "hardly get a pain killer tablet at government hospitals".

The country was sustained by the European donor community who has "quietly (diplomatically) aired their views on the failure by government to deliver on the people's socio-economic expectations".

The monarchy was undemocratic and a drain to the taxpayer, Lukhele said. "We call on the South African government, SADC (SA Development Community), AU (African Union), EU (European Union), UN (United Nations) and all peace loving people of the world to take bold steps and act against this despotic manifestation. Strongly condemn this action."