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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Swaziland royals cause anger with Las Vegas trip | Swaziland royals cause anger with Las Vegas trip |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Africa's last absolute monarch has been criticised for another display of extravagance after it emerged that three of his wives are to go on a lavish holiday to Las Vegas. | Africa's last absolute monarch has been criticised for another display of extravagance after it emerged that three of his wives are to go on a lavish holiday to Las Vegas. |
| The revelation came days after King Mswati III of Swaziland reportedly told his impoverished subjects: "God warned the Swazi people not to love money." | The revelation came days after King Mswati III of Swaziland reportedly told his impoverished subjects: "God warned the Swazi people not to love money." |
| The king and his family are renowned for their luxury cars and shopping trips to Europe and Dubai even though most of the Swazi population lives in poverty. Last month he took a big party to the Queen's silver jubilee celebrations in London. | The king and his family are renowned for their luxury cars and shopping trips to Europe and Dubai even though most of the Swazi population lives in poverty. Last month he took a big party to the Queen's silver jubilee celebrations in London. |
| The three wives will be part of a 66-strong royal retinue flying by chartered jet to the US gambling destination, South Africa's Mail & Guardian website reported. They will be joined by some of their children and domestic support. | The three wives will be part of a 66-strong royal retinue flying by chartered jet to the US gambling destination, South Africa's Mail & Guardian website reported. They will be joined by some of their children and domestic support. |
| The plan was condemned by the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), which said the royal party is expected to stay in 10 villas, each costing R20,000 (£1,537) a night. | The plan was condemned by the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN), which said the royal party is expected to stay in 10 villas, each costing R20,000 (£1,537) a night. |
| Lucky Lukhele, South African-based spokesman of the SSN, contrasted the excursion with the fate of thousands of young women who will soon perform topless at the king's annual reed dance. | Lucky Lukhele, South African-based spokesman of the SSN, contrasted the excursion with the fate of thousands of young women who will soon perform topless at the king's annual reed dance. |
| "The royal family seems to live in its own world that is totally unaffected by the country's struggles," he said. "The royal household has also shown no intention of acknowledging the country's fiscal difficulties as the annual reed dance will go ahead as usual, despite the fact that it will also put a large dent on the country's reserves all for the simple act of brainwashing and abusing the same pupils being denied an education. | "The royal family seems to live in its own world that is totally unaffected by the country's struggles," he said. "The royal household has also shown no intention of acknowledging the country's fiscal difficulties as the annual reed dance will go ahead as usual, despite the fact that it will also put a large dent on the country's reserves all for the simple act of brainwashing and abusing the same pupils being denied an education. |
| "This blatant misuse of resources is an insult to the Swazi nation." | "This blatant misuse of resources is an insult to the Swazi nation." |
| Vincent Dlamini, general secretary of the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union, described the Las Vegas trip as insensitive and arrogant. | Vincent Dlamini, general secretary of the National Public Service and Allied Workers Union, described the Las Vegas trip as insensitive and arrogant. |
| He told the Mail & Guardian: "This just shows the utter disdain that the royal family has for the people of Swaziland, that they can go on an expensive and indulgent trip like this when the country is on strike demanding better living and working conditions. | He told the Mail & Guardian: "This just shows the utter disdain that the royal family has for the people of Swaziland, that they can go on an expensive and indulgent trip like this when the country is on strike demanding better living and working conditions. |
| "There are people languishing in poverty, not knowing where their next meal is coming from because their wages are being withheld during the strike and yet these people spend all this money on a shopping trip." | "There are people languishing in poverty, not knowing where their next meal is coming from because their wages are being withheld during the strike and yet these people spend all this money on a shopping trip." |
| He added: "This is sheer arrogance and is more proof than ever that we need democracy in Swaziland to be able stop this abuse of public funds. As it is we are living in a dictatorship and the king is an absolute monarch and his family is allowed to do as they please." | He added: "This is sheer arrogance and is more proof than ever that we need democracy in Swaziland to be able stop this abuse of public funds. As it is we are living in a dictatorship and the king is an absolute monarch and his family is allowed to do as they please." |
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