Long Live the King! But What About His Subjects...?

About a month ago I watched the documentary Without the King, which is a socioeconomic profile of Swaziland and the affects of monarchy. Knowing very little about Swaziland before watching this film, I was shocked by what it candidly exposed.



King Mswati, who took the throne when he was only 18, has been internationally criticized for his lavish lifestyle amidst Swaziland's immense poverty. The documentary stars Princess Sikhanyiso, who is often called "Pashu", as she prepares to begin college in California and explore the impact that she can soon have on the development of her homeland. She gives us a tour of the king's exquisite mansion while the viewer is simultaneously shown the conditions that most Swazi's live in- dilapidated one room shacks, lacking access to clean water. The film also depicts citizens' desire to eliminate the country's autocratic royal rule and transition into a democracy. Many believe that it is the country's system of governance that has led to the king's exploitation of country resources and citizens' extreme poverty, dependency on international aid, and the highest aids rate in the world.

I was hoping that perhaps the producers of the documentary already had preconceived notions about the method of governance in Swaziland and were using the film as a political platform for change. However, as I have browsed news of the past ten years reporting on Swaziland, I am quite saddened by the lack of international attention this country has received, considering the seriousness of the humanitarian situation and blatant misappropriation of national resources by the king.

As far back as 2000, large scale demonstrations were staged protesting the lack of political parties and the abuse of royal power, which had even led to the forced removal of people from their homes because a prince wanted the land.

In order to help halt the spread of HIV/AIDS, the King instituted a sex ban in September of 2001, that was to last for five years. Unmarried girls under the age of 18 were instructed to wear tassels, warning men not to touch them. If they did, the men would be fined one cow or $152.



However, within one month, the King himself violated the ban by becoming engaged to a 17 year old girl. In a gesture of compliance with tradition, he donated one cow to a local village.
The King's disobeyal of the traditional was just another step in his abuse of power. In 2005, King Mswati ended the sex ban a year early and chose his new 17 year old wife shortly thereafter.

Aaaaah, but the joys of being a Queen. Though the women at times publicly battle for King Mswati's affection, he ensures that they enjoy the same level of luxury that he does by buying them luxury cars to match his own. But all this does not compare to his private jet, that was featured in the film and flew the Princess to school in California.

The most recent blatant misuse of the government's funds took place last week when the King's wives chartered a plane to go shopping in Europe and the Middle East.




Swaziland is a landlocked country, thus its opportunity to enter the global economy severely hampered. It is so unfortunate that a country that prides itself in its ability to maintain its culture and tradition has been forced to seek modernity for the sake of their own livelihoods! I do not have a solution to the crisis that pervades Swaziland, but I know that at the very least, King Mswati should not continue to use his royalty as justification for leading a life of shameless extravagance, while his people live in abject poverty and perish at an alarming rate.