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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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King Sends Wives on Spree While Africans Starve

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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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16 comments
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matteo
Aug 21, 09 3:29 AM CDT
sharp criticism comes always after!! why not make sure before where the money goes and that its spent properly ?? Reply
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+3
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Laugh
Aug 21, 09 3:41 AM CDT
You just can't dictate to a dictator.
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+4
IN RESPONSE:
UrUndertaker
Aug 21, 09 7:21 AM CDT
We have 13.5 million American children (old stats) here in the United States of Hypocrites but it is always easier to read of Africa to someone more blatant about it, perhaps more honest that he doesn't give a damn and ignores the problem publicly rather than in private as we seem to do here. And before you ask where do I get the numbers? Everywhere, try Google for a few million hits: Here is but one: http://www.care2.com/c2c/share/detail/1157023
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+1
riffran
Aug 21, 09 4:06 AM CDT
well it's good thing I am not in swaziland......Mswati....you are a asshat peice of shit, Reply
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+4
IN RESPONSE:
BoZo
Aug 21, 09 9:41 AM CDT
Reminds me of home... Detroit.
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+4

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