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King Sends Wives on Spree While Africans Starve

By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 21, 2009 2:12 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Swaziland King Mswati III sent several of his 13 wives on a multi-million-dollar shopping spree in the Mideast and Europe while two-thirds of his subjects continue to suffer in abject poverty, reports the Times of London. The move has triggered sharp criticism in Britain, which provides the impoverished nation with some $93 million in aid each year. The US contributes $200 million annually.

The king received some $17 million in funds from the Swaziland government last year, more than the total spent on education in the nation, which has the highest rate of HIV infection in the world. The shopping spree cost some $6 million in state funds. It's a crime in Swaziland to criticize the king, Africa's last absolute monarch.

Swaziland's King Mswati III and a wife arrive in the resort town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe earlier this summer.
Swaziland's King Mswati III and a wife arrive in the resort town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe earlier this summer.   (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi)
Swaziland's King Mswati III reacts, during his costly 40th birthday celebration on the outskirts of the city of Mbabane, Swaziland, last year.
Swaziland's King Mswati III reacts, during his costly 40th birthday celebration on the outskirts of the city of Mbabane, Swaziland, last year.   (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)
King Mswati II of Swaziland with one of his wives arrives for a conference in Nairobi, Kenya.
King Mswati II of Swaziland with one of his wives arrives for a conference in Nairobi, Kenya.   (AP Photo/Sayyid Azim)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
Mr.C
Aug 22, 2009 5:13 AM CDT
The US gives it to non-government-organizations working on HIV/AIDS etc.--- Taking back our money would be taking back the millions of lives saved by the (anti)Malaria BedNets we have subsidized all over the world.
Mr.C
Aug 22, 2009 5:03 AM CDT
we give it to organizations working on improving lives, not *him*
Mr.C
Aug 22, 2009 5:02 AM CDT
Money rarely goes straight to a government. ===== USAID program and technical support focuses on prevention, human capacity development, nongovernmental organization capacity building, and health systems strengthening. USAID also provides significant technical assistance to the development and management of anti-retroviral therapy and patient monitoring systems in order to assist Swaziland in adhering to Global Fund requirements.

 
Africa • HIV • polygamy • aid • starvation • poverty • Swaziland • King Mswati III • shopping spree

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