Swaziland@Newsletter 78


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_________________________________

Dear readers


As the government tells us in its online information: the history of
the Great Kings of the Kingdom is best told in a form of stories,
songs, and praises. And now, an SMS is also wecome. All are welcome to
send one to the king. It costs E50 but it does seem to be worth it.

Perhaps one can tell him what is happening. Perhaps explain how the
largest demonstrations in Swaziland's history took the shine off all
the celebrations. And tell about the border blocade taking place on
18 September, 2008. And about all the orphans and the sick and the poor.

All in all, just tell him the "sad tale of a swinging king and his
dying country".

Editor
Swaziland@Newsletter


________________________________

1. Send SMS to King for E50. Timothy Simelane. The Swazi Observer,
September 10, 2008.

2. Swaziland Government Online Information: Kings of the Kingdom
http://www.gov.sz/home.asp?pid=900

3. COSATU to stage border blockade on Swaziland against undemocratic
tinkhundla elections: 18 September, 2008.

4. Pro-democracy gains momentum. UN IRIN, 8 September 2008.

5. Aids orphans penniless as king throws $2.5m party. Sebastien
Berger, The National - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. September 07.
2008.

6. Mswati show goes on undeterred. The Sowetan, 8 September 2008.

7. Mbeki's 'snub'. Mercury / Sapa-AFP. September 08, 2008.

8. At odds with the biting poverty Swazis hold 40th birthday of
king. Clare Nullis, AP September 6, 2008.

9. The sad tale of a swinging king and his dying country. The Times,
September 7, 2008.

10. Swaziland king's lavish lifestyle slammed, UPI September 6, 2008.

_________________________________

1. Send SMS to King for E50. Timothy Simelane. The Swazi Observer,
September 10, 2008.

Send an SMS to 1968 and wish His Majesty King Mswati III well on his
40th birthday and the nation well in the 40th independence
anniversary, for E50 per message.

Alternatively, you can send the same message to 4040 and pay E10. This
option, however, has no guarantee that your SMS will catch the
attention of His Majesty.

This is the latest offering from the 40/40 National Celebrations
Committee which has just organised the 40/40 national celebrations.

Chairman of the 40/40 Celebrations Committee Luke Mswane said people
should not be alarmed about the seemingly high fees for sending an SMS.

- This is just a voluntary exercise aimed at hyping the 40/40
celebrations. Proceeds from the SMS fees will benefit charity
organisations to be selected by His Majesty, he said.

In the first category, Mswane explained that the first batch of 200
SMSs sent through the phone will be taken to His Majesty for personal
viewing. The SMSs will also be published by the country media.
Senders in the first category are also welcome to write their names.

In the second category, Mswane said the SMSs would be sent to 4040 for
E10 but His Majesty will only come across them when he reads the
newspapers, or watches TV. It was still unclear yesterday how the SBIS
would also broadcast the messages. Senders in this category may,
however, not be allowed to send their identities.

The Chairman said this was done in collaboration with MTN Swaziland,
the only cellular network provider in the country. He explained that
the 40/40 committee, together with the service providers and the media
houses, had the right to edit SMSs before publishing them.

He laughed off questions suggesting that some may use the opportunity
to campaign for political appointments saying: This is a voluntary
exercise. People should feel like they are giving to charity by
sending an SMS. This facility is open for everyone.

Mswane said senders using contract phones should get permission from
the companies or organisations that foot the bill. He said he was not
expecting government officials using the 606 contract to also send SMS
on government account.

This is supposed to be on personal expense, he said.

E40/40 magazine out

A 152 page magazine depicting 40 years of constant national progress
is now officially in circulation.

Luke Mswane, the Chairperson of the 40/40 National Celebrations
Committee, said the magazine explains all development aspects of the
nation including road infrastructure, health services, economy,
government departments and others.

The magazine also carries a pictorial pull-out. It will be distributed
for free in government ministries, and envoys will get copies for
distribution to those who pay courtesy visits to them.

_____________________________

2. Swaziland Government Online Information: Kings of the Kingdom
http://www.gov.sz/home.asp?pid=900


The history of the Great Kings of the Kingdom is best told in a form
of stories, songs, and praises.

Numerous historians, including Dr J. S M. Matsebula who produced the
first ever history of Swaziland, researched on the lineage of the
Kings of the Kingdom and the origin of the Swazi people.

Matsebula writes that "the History of a country is the spirit of the
Country's inhabitants" (Matsebula, 1972).

According to official records, the Dlaminis are the first known tribe
who fought a party of Dutch officials that left the Cape to explore
the Lubombo range near Delgoa Bay in 1723. These were known as the
Bembo-Nguni.

The founder-leader of the Bembo-Nguni group, which eventually moved
into the present day Swaziland, was a man called Dlamini. Dlamini is
looked upon as the founder of the Royal clan of the Swazis. This
group of people became known as the Dlamini-Nguni.

Dlamini and his people including successors lived around the Tembe
River near Maputo, Mozambique. Official records indicates that
Dlamini I is the first known King of Swaziland who was able to
increase his followers by conquering many clans along the Lubombo.

Thus, he is known as "Lowacedza Lubombo ngekuhlehletela etfwele
umfunti". It is probably true that there were other leaders before
Him who were not significantly strong and warlike like him.

The Royal Family tree put Dlamini I as the significant founder of the
Swazi people. Kings who came after him, in order of succession
include: Mswati I; Ngwane II; Dlamini II; Nkosi II; Mavuso I;
Magudulela; Ludvonga; Dlamini III; Ngwane III; Ndvungunye; Sobhuza I;
Mswati II; Ludvonga II; Mbandzeni; Ngwane V; Sobhuza II; and the
present reigning Mornachy, Mswati III.

King Ngwane III is said to be of special importance in the history of
Swazis, as it is him who gave the nation one of its names. When his
people began to settle in the present day Swaziland, they called it
kaNgwane (the place or country of Ngwane). The name kaNgwane has
remained to the present time, and is the one by which the Swazi people
usually call themselves.

The Swazi tradition provides that the King and his mother must reign
together. Thus at any given time there is a King and Indlovukazi, and
two Royal Headquarters or residences. The King's residence is the
administrative headquarters, and it is here that the King's day to day
business is carried out.

The Indlovukazi's residence is known as umphakatsi, and is the
national capital and the spiritual and ceremonial home of the nation.
It is where all important national events such as the Incwala ceremony
take place. The present national capital is Ludzidzini.

The oldest known Indlovukazi to whom we can attach years to her reign
is Layaka Ndwandwe. The lineage of Indlovukazi in the Kingdom is as
follows: Layaka Ndwandwe; Lakubheka Mndzebele; Lojiba Simelane;
Tsandzile Ndwandwe; Sisile Khumalo; Tibati Nkambule; Gwamile
Labotsibeni Mdluli; Lomawa Ndwandwe; Nukwase Ndwandwe; Zihlathi
Ndwandwe; Seneleleni Ndwandwe; Dzeliwe Shongwe, and the present
Indlovukazi, Ntombi Tfwala.

_________________________________

3. COSATU to stage border blockade on Swaziland against undemocratic
tinkhundla elections: 18 September, 2008.

The Central Executive Committee of the Congress of South African Trade
Union, at its meeting on 1-3 September 2008, declared that the time
has come to bring to a total stop the tendency by Swaziland's royal
family regime to get away with conducting undemocratic and
illegitimate elections, yet still be accepted as a legitimate
government.

It was agreed to organise a massive border blockade on 18th September
at the South Africa/Swaziland border.

Since 1973 the people of Swaziland have never had the opportunity to
choose their own leaders in an environment conducive to free and
democratic elections. The tinkhundla regime has banned political
parties, instituted a perpetual state of emergency and criminalised
all forms of political activity, including marches and demonstrations.
It has also denied the people their rights to organise, associate and
speak freely. For more than 35 years, elections have been conducted in
such an environment and we have all allowed it to happen, but not this
time.

COSATU has taken note of the hugely successful marches and
demonstrations that shook the whole of Swaziland last week. They were
organised by the Swaziland United Democratic Front (SUDF), an alliance
of progressive forces, amongst them the political opposition
organisations -PUDEMO and NNLC, the trade unions - SFTU, SFL, SNAT and
NAPSAWU, the NCA and many other such forces who have for years called
for democracy and social change in the country.

The state resorted to its usual language of violence and more violence
against peaceful marchers. Amnesty International has on several
occasions condemned the Swazi regime for torture, violence and
brutality against political activists, which has seen many of them
being forced into exile.

The king recently hosted a very big bash for his friends, most of whom
are despots rejected by their own people in their own countries, such
as that election thief Robert Mugabe, who finds common cause with the
ruthless monarchy, a symbol of global corruption and greed, who has
been named one of the richest monarchs in the world, yet his people
are amongst some of the poorest beings in the world, ravaged by
HIV/AIDS, social destitution and grinding poverty.

Greed and corruption have become endemic in Swaziland, with the royal
family having unlimited access to national resources in the name of
Swazi culture and tradition. Lack of accountability breeds corruption
and cancerous greed, hence the massive, legalised looting of the
economy by the ruling elite, buying expensive goods, living
extravagant lifestyles and splashing the country's wealth around in
shows of might and display of royal power, including buying allegiance
and patronage.

COSATU supports the call by the democratic forces of Swaziland for the
world to reject this political jamboree and the sham called
'elections', until political parties are unbanned and all the rights
of the people are enforced to create an environment conducive to free,
fair and democratic elections, whose outcome shall indeed be affirmed
without fear, as the expressed will of the Swazi people.

COSATU is announcing a rolling programme aimed at decisively changing
the political landscape and conditions of Swaziland, as envisaged by
the people of the country in their international calls and national
mass action. The elements of our bold programme include:

A preparatory meeting to plan the border blockade, on Sunday, 14
September 2008 at Ermelo, co-ordinated by the COSATU Mpumalanga
Province. All organisations taking part in the blockade from South
Africa and their Swazi counterparts will gather to finalise the plan
for the 18th September border blockade.

A strategy meeting of SADC progressive organisations at the end of
September, to prepare for the major offensive against Zimbabwe and
Swaziland, scheduled for 27 October-1 November 2008, which will
involve boycotts of goods and services destined for the two countries

At the SATUCC Congress of the Southern African Trade Union
Co-ordination Council in Botswana 9-10 October, we shall propose firm
resolutions on the situation in these two countries proposing a
sustained and effective regional solidarity movement

The major offensive from 27 October-1 November 2008, during which we
hope, guided by our allies inside the two countries, to hit Mswati and
Mugabe where it matters the most - the economy. This should be one of
the most historic and major lessons for any dictator in the region
that their time is up and that this region must be set on a new path

Meanwhile a task team of COSATU affiliates involved in critical
sectors of the economy that will be directly affected by the
non-handling of goods and services delivered its report to the CEC and
is continuing to do its work to prepare the final offensive, in line
with the requests made by our allies in the two countries.

The team will continue to meet as regularly as necessary until the
week of action. It will also present its second draft report to the
regional strategy meeting at the end of September. It is convened by
both Campaigns and International departments of COSATU at head office.

_________________________________

4. Pro-democracy gains momentum. UN IRIN, 8 September 2008.

Some of the largest demonstrations in Swaziland's history, this time
against growing poverty, took the shine off twin celebrations to mark
King Mswati's 40th birthday and 40 years of the kingdom's independence.

At least 10,000 pro-democracy activists crowded the usually quiet
streets of Manzini, the country's central commercial hub, on 3
September, before reassembling in the capital, Mbabane, the following
day.

No mention was made of the march by government leaders during
festivities on Saturday to mark the so-called "40-40" celebrations,
but security forces were on high alert.

"We are elated by the historic outpouring of ordinary people to say to
the royal government, 'Enough!'," said Andrew Simelane, a member of
the umbrella Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU).

The march in Mbabane was marred by the detonation of two small
explosive devices: the first, planted in a trash bin in a shopping
mall, did no damage, and the second, inside an empty bus, blew a hole
in the vehicle. No one claimed responsibility, and march organisers
were furious that the blasts might distract from their humanitarian
message.

"The people of Swaziland are suffering enough. We don't need bombings;
we need to focus on how the nation's resources are being lost to
corruption and privilege and not being spent on the people," said
Vincent Ncongwane, Secretary-General of the Swaziland Federation of
Labour, another worker's body participating in the marches.

The cost

Two-thirds of Swaziland's people live in chronic poverty, according to
the UN Development Programme, and nearly 40 percent are HIV-positive,
giving Swaziland the highest HIV prevalence rate in the world. A
majority of the population - 600,000 out of less than one million
people - depend on food aid from international donor organisations.

Two weeks ago, 1,000 HIV-positive women, spurred by reports that eight
of King Mswati's 13 wives had taken a trip to the Middle East and
Asia, led a protest march in Mbabane.

The labour unions have demanded a public accounting of the money spent
on the "40-40" event. Marchers in Mbabane were also angry that on the
evening of the march, on 3 September, an elaborate party was held at
Mswati's Lozitha Palace on the occasion of his eldest daughter's 21st
birthday.

"The Americans this week scaled down a big political party for John
McCain [the Republican presidential nominee] because of a humanitarian
crisis [the impact of Hurricane Gustav]. A government must show its
sensitivity toward the people's plight," said Cynthia Hlatshwako, who
works as a secretary in Mbabane.

Although Swaziland's state-run television did not broadcast coverage
of the demonstrations, some members of the Swazi press are showing new
boldness. Local newspapers widely reprinted a recent list published by
Forbes magazine, in which King Mswati was named one of the 15 richest
royals in the world.

Political commentator Vusi Sibisi compared the current situation in
Swaziland to that of France prior to the French Revolution.
Swaziland's gross domestic product has seen a two-decade decline,
while many other Southern African nations have been experiencing
sustained GDP growth.

SFTU Secretary-General Jan Sithole has announced a week of mass action
from 15 to 19 September.

_________________________________


5. Aids orphans penniless as king throws $2.5m party. Sebastien
Berger, The National - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. September 07.
2008.

- It comes from the roots of the country where we grew up and learnt
to respect his majesty.

Underpinning the deference is a feudal system of land distribution.
Most of it is owned by the king and administered on his behalf by
traditional chiefs, who can strip troublemakers and their families of
their holdings with devastating consequences in a country where the
vast majority are subsistence farmers.

Worse yet is the sanction of expulsion from the community, which
prevents an evictee from being buried with his ancestors, threatening
his immortal soul.

A general election is due later this month but political parties are
not authorised by the constitution.

For Barnes Dlamini, chairman of the Swaziland United Democratic Front,
an umbrella opposition group, the authorities are now abusing
traditional culture for reasons of self-preservation.

- They are utilising that thing against change in Swaziland, he said.
It is no longer about being an identification of the Swazi nation;
its about scoring political points.

In the wake of the protests, which were accompanied by incidents of
violence, Martin Dlamini, the editor of the independent Times of
Swaziland newspaper - the royal surname is commonplace among the
more prominent citizens - said that pressure for reform was
growing, although there was no mechanism for it to happen without the
king?s backing.

- Its very serious, he said. Culturally you never stand up against
the royalty and how they are spending their money, it is taboo.

- A lot of people are saying it is about time this happened. There is no
demonstration on the monarchy side or the government that they are
conscious of the poverty and social ills facing this country. They
seem to be living in a world of their own.
____________________________________________


6. Mswati?s show goes on undeterred. The Sowetan, 8 September 2008.


EXTRAVAGANZA: Swaziland?s King Mswati III at his birthday celebrations
on the outskirts of Mbabane. The festivities contrasted sharply with
the biting poverty of his subjects. photo: ap

Demonstrations at the Swaziland embassy in Pretoria and pressure put
on South African soccer players and artists not to take part in the
Swaziland celebrations on Saturday achieved very little.

And the South African government says it will not be swayed by growing
calls for it to boycott the oppressive Swazi regime.

The Young Communist League, Cosatu and ANC Youth League were
campaigning against South Africans taking part in the 40-40 Swaziland
celebration.

Foreign Affairs spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said the government had not
discussed the isolation of Swaziland.

- The issue of sport or cultural boycott has not been discussed by
government, Mamoepa said.

The SA Football Association and several artists were billed to take
part in the dual celebrations marking King Mswati?s 40th birthday and
the country?s 40th independence celebrations.

Throughout last week pressure was put on them pressured not to honour
the engagements.

Cosatu said it would stage a week-long boycott of goods destined for
Zimbabwe and Swaziland this month.

The Swaziland Solidarity Network said it would intensify its demand
for democracy through strikes and marches against the regime. The
network demands multiparty elections that are set to be held later
this month, a R500 a month grant for the elderly and adherence to
international treaties to which the nation is party.

Sapa reports that the king attended the dual celebrations in lavish
style on Saturday. He toured the stadium in an open-topped BMW to
cheers and fluttering flags.

The loudest cheer was reserved for Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe,
popular in the region because he is seen as standing up to to the West.

Mswati is Africa?s last absolute monarch. He is widely revered, but
there is anger about his and his 13 wives? luxurious lifestyle.

_____________________________


7. Mbeki's 'snub'. Mercury / Sapa-AFP. September 08, 2008.

Mbabane - President Thabo Mbeki was conspicuous in his absence at
Swaziland's double celebrations held on Saturday.

Some Swazis interpreted his absence as a snub of the 40th anniversary
of Swaziland and the 40th birthday of King Mswati.

The celebration was marred by controversy as many Swazis questioned
the aptness of spending millions on extravagant celebrations when the
country is mired in poverty with a stagnant economy and a collapsing
department of health amid record Aids infection rates.

Mbeki was one of the heads of state invited to attend the event in the
Somhlolo Stadium and his failure to attend did not go unnoticed by
officials and members of the public.

The South African delegation was instead led by Minister of Defence
Mosiuoa Lekota and Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini. The Swazi Ministry
of Foreign Affairs confirmed to the Swazi media that Mbeki had been
invited.

Southern African Development Community and other African heads of
state who did attend included King Letsie (Lesotho), Robert Mugabe
(Zimbabwe), Armando Guebuza (Mozambique), Hifikepunye Pohamba
(Namibia), Bingu WaMutharika (Malawi), Marc Ravalomanana (Madagascar),
Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania), Yoweri Museveni (Uganda) and Ian Khama
(Botswana). Taiwan, which has had 40 years of diplomatic relations
with Swaziland, sent its vice-president, Vincent Siaw.

Swaziland's principal secretary in the ministry of foreign affairs,
Clifford Mamba, said his government had invited only heads of state,
which was why it had not invited ANC president Jacob Zuma.

Speaking at the celebration, King Mswati promised better times for his
subjects.

Ranked by Forbes magazine as one of the richest royals in the world,
the last absolute monarch in Africa was upbeat about the future of his
nation - despite economic stagnation, two-thirds of its people living
in poverty, and one of the world's highest rates of HIV-Aids.

______________________________________


8. At odds with the biting poverty Swazis hold 40th birthday of king.
Clare Nullis, AP September 6, 2008.

MBABANE, Swaziland (AP) The Swazi king entered a stadium in an
open-topped BMW to cheers and flag-waving Saturday, marking his 40th
birthday and his country's 40th independence anniversary.

The lavish ceremony however was at odds with the biting poverty
endured by the majority of King Mswati III's citizens.

Earlier, thousands of maidens who had performed for the king last
weekend at the annual Reed Dance proceeded into the stadium, as did
leaders of most of the countries in the region.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, popular among many in the region
because he is seen as standing up to the West, was greeted with cheers.

The cost of the celebrations was officially put at $2.5 million, but
it was widely believed to be at least five times more. It left a sour
taste among the 70 percent of Swaziland's one million population who
survive below the poverty line.

The government called Saturday's events the 40-40 festivities, marking
the king's birthday and the anniversary of independence from Britain.

But the number 40 cuts both ways ? unemployment: 40 percent; HIV
rates: nearly 40 percent among adults. Only one in four Swazis can
expect to live to celebrate their 40th birthday because of the world's
worst AIDS rate.

Swaziland holds parliamentary elections later this month, but critics
have dismissed them as a sham because political parties are banned and
so voters have to choose from a list of individuals with no strong
political platform.

Mswati is Africa's last absolute monarch. He is widely revered but
there is anger about the luxurious lifestyle enjoyed by him and his 13
wives. There was outrage when about eight of his 13 wives flew to
Dubai for a birthday party shopping spree.

One in five of the population depends on international food aid,
partly because AIDS has devastated the rural way of life and led to an
explosion in child-headed households who can't tend the fields. Life
expectancy has nearly halved since 1998 because of the AIDS epidemic
and is now less than 31 years, according to the most recent U.N.
figures.

_______________________________________

9. The sad tale of a swinging king and his dying country. The Times,
September 7, 2008.

Right now, in a nearby land, lives a profligate king who has 13 wives.
To celebrate his 40th birthday and 40 years of independence, he
announced 40/40 festivities, to culminate today.

But outside the royal palace lurks a fearsome enemy, laying waste to
his mountainous domain. Not a fire-breathing dragon, but an invisible
germ called TB, its drug-resistant cousin and a virus known as HIV,
who have been slaying the population.

The king, fortunately, has good men and women ready to fight these
plagues that killed about 10 000 people last year.

His monarchy, Swaziland, has the world-highest proportion of people
living with HIV, roughly one quarter of the sexually active population.
HIV thrives through concurrent sexual partnerships and polygamy,
fêted by the last absolute monarch, King Mswati III, is
fuelling infection rates.

This country of about one million citizens also has the world?s
highest number of notified TB cases per population, about 1200 out of
every 100000.

About 80% of people coughing and sweating with TB are also infected
with HIV, says Themba Dlamini, head of the national TB programme.
He says: Those most affected are 14 to 39 years old. Those are the
breadwinners.

Swaziland?s population pyramid from a 2007 census reveals that nearly
40% of the population is under 15 and middle-aged citizens are
lacking. TB is the main killer of this age band. Furthermore, an
international report has revealed that Swaziland has a negative annual
population growth rate (-0.4%, July 2008).

Rejoice Nkambule, deputy director of health services: public health,
warns that TB is a major public health threat.

- Our biggest challenge is getting the undiagnosed people who are out
there to be diagnosed early, she says.

TB cases that are difficult to cure are exploding in the region and
South Africas drug-resistant hot spot, Tugela Ferry, is not far from
the Swazi border.

While Mswati, the 15th richest monarch in the world hosts a state
banquet this weekend, roughly 70% of the population will be struggling
to find their next meal.

Take Themba Lushaba, 37, who looks twice his age. Unlike his king,
Lushaba might not live to see his 40th birthday. The average life
expectancy in Swaziland is 42.

With glazed eyes, he lies shaking on a mat in a hut near Hluti, the
dry southern region of Shiselweni, where about a quarter of
Swaziland?s citizens live and no crops flourish. His family has no
horse, car or cash to take him to hospital.

Not one person from the Lushaba homestead has a job. They have barely
enough maize to feed the children in the extended family.

Since 2000, the family of 33 has lost 15 members, children and adults.
This grim reality has motivated organisations and individuals to step
up and streamline efforts against the TB and HIV epidemics.

The Swazi health ministry, the National TB Programme and international
organisations Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and
the University Research Corporation are among those who have combined
forces to slow down the TB death toll.

Treatment staves off death. Even in the ravaged Lushaba family, a
married couple, Ellen and John, as well as his sister, have been cured
of TB and are taking antiretrovirals for HIV.

- Before, I couldn?t walk. Now I have the energy to work in the
fields,says John, who has an eye infection masked by a strip of cloth.
Aymeric Peguillan, head of mission for MSF in Swaziland, says: We
need to get services closer to the people and to improve the quantity
and the quality of services. We need to progress towards systematic
screening and a one-stop solution (for TB and HIV).

MSF, working in the health ministry, has dispatched doctors and nurses
to outpatient TB and HIV/Aids clinics in Shiselweni. A pilot project
at Nhlangano clinic, a one-stop TB and HIV service, treats about 70
patients a day, including children.

The clinics refer patients across a sunny courtyard and waiting area
for HIV tests or TB screening, and they collect drug refills the same
day, instead of having to return.

MSF doctor Aowa Hima Oumarou cares for TB patients with complications
at several clinics.

One of her patients, Thembi D, is a former textile worker with HIV.
When Oumarou asks how she is doing, the 46kg woman says she is fine.
Some days we are hungry and go without food, but I never go without
my tablets (antiretrovirals), she says.

Oumarou cajoles another patient in singing French: Allais, allais
(go, go) to take an HIV test.

A number of men are migrant workers, with green patient cards from
South Africa?s health system, as well as the blue Swazi cards.
TB is a regional health threat, not confined by borders.

Nkambule says: ?We need common guidelines in the Southern African
Development Community so that we can minimise the development of drug
resistance.

MDR-TB (multidrug-resistant) is a big concern.

The World Health Organisation has flagged MDR-TB and the virtually
untreatable XDR-TB (extensively drug-resistant TB) as a global health
priority.

Dlamini says: ?We are working to declare TB an emergency in every region.?
HIV was declared a national disaster in Swaziland in 1999.

Dlamini says: Notification of TB has escalated almost five times from
1997, when there were less than 2000 cases. Now we are close to 10000
cases (9655). These are high numbers in a country with such a small
population.

Dlamini says the number of MDR and XDR-TB cases were likely to rise
with more laboratory training, staffing and funding taking place.
- We have had 16 MDR cases reported, but these might go up to 150
(after a recent survey for the World Health Organisation). We have had
four cases of XDR-TB and two of those patients died.

Five out of seven Swazi laboratories can detect TB from sputum
samples, though they still send suspected drug-resistant samples to
South Africa.

According to Oumarou, the number of drug-resistant cases is escalating.
This is making it difficult for hospitals to enforce infection control
measures.

At Hlatikulu hospital, not far from Nhlangano, many MDR-TB patients in
the male medical ward are not properly isolated, although the cleaners
mop the floors with masks on.

The Manzini outpatient TB clinic is overflowing with patients, who
cough away without much ventilation.

But shimmering on a hill, near downtown Manzini, is Moneni hospital, a
huge, modern facility dedicated to the isolation and treatment of
drug-resistant patients ? that has yet to open its doors.

MDR-TB is curable with treatment, as Mbabane bank employee Thobile
Mthetwas state of health proves. The HIV-negative 31-year-old has
fully recovered from TB, going from a skeletal invalid to a healthy
professional.

Like her, Swaziland has the potential to roll back TB.
However, consistent leadership from the top is critical to control
infectious diseases. On this score Lesotho, despite its 23% HIV
prevalence, might be better off than Swaziland.

Lesotho?s rulers seem to lead by example. For instance, in 2004 prime
minister Pakalitha Mosisili took an HIV test to promote universal
testing.

Unlike the Swazi king, they dont promote abstinence through reed
dances of 50000 bare-breasted maidens.

Ahead of the polls, set for September 19, this week the Swazi
opposition and unions mobilised mass protests for democratic reform in
Manzini and Mbabane. Explosions also went off in the capital.

While Mswatis head is in the clouds, at least the health ministry and
TB programme are fully aware of the task they face. Their long list of
priorities includes: early and improved TB case detection; the
shifting of tasks to nurses; improving mobile services and access to
quality drugs; encouraging community leadership for adherence to drug
regimes and the breaking down of stigma; and the general scaling up of
HIV/Aids and TB treatment.

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10. Swaziland king's lavish lifestyle slammed, UPI September 6, 2008.

As the impoverished African kingdom of Swaziland celebrated its 40th
year of independence Saturday, dissidents were criticizing its king's
lavish lifestyle.

King Mswati III, with a fortune estimated at $200 million, is also
celebrating his 40th birthday. The event has prompted protests drawing
thousands into the streets of Swaziland's two biggest cities, The New
York Times reported.

Media reports of Mswati's 13 wives receiving new luxury cars and going
on foreign shopping trips via chartered airplanes have angered some in
a country where the monarch is still largely revered, the newspaper
said. Some 1,500 protesters marched through the capital of Ludzidzini
recently, it reported.

Critics say poverty and malnourishment has worsened in Swaziland, in
part because of an AIDS epidemic, and average life expectancy has
fallen from 60 years in 1997 to barely half that now.

"The king spends our money and is not answerable to anyone!" Mario
Masuku, the head of an outlawed political party, told the newspaper.

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