JOHANNESBURG – The\ngovernment of eSwatini is refuting media reports that the nation\u2019s King Mswati\nIII \u2014- the last absolute monarch in Africa \u2014 is \u201ccritically ill\u201d with\nCOVID-19. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reports began to\ncirculate after the king did not appear for a Good Friday service. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe King is not ill,\u201d\nForeign Minister Thuli Dladla told VOA via WhatsApp message when asked about\nthe reports on Monday. \u201cHe is very much fine and directing Cabinet from the\nPalace. He meets the PM and Minister (of) Health now and again. We don’t want\nhim to be exposed. He is very well.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She also called the\nmedia reports \u201ca very sick joke and very defamatory.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The World Health Organization\nsays the landlocked nation of 1.1 million people, formerly known as Swaziland,\nhas reported 12 cases of the virus, and no deaths. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The tiny nation wedged\nbetween South Africa and Mozambique is Africa\u2019s last absolute monarchy,\nco-ruled by King Mswati III and his mother. The nation is technically a\ndemocracy, though political parties are banned, and the king is the top\nexecutive who rules for life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 51-year-old\nmonarch has ruled since he was 18. He has at least 15 wives and 23 known\nchildren. In 2018, he suddenly changed the country\u2019s name to eSwatini.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
News outlets based in\neSwatini or in neighboring South Africa have in recent days raised questions\nabout the king\u2019s whereabouts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On April 11,\njournalist Zweli Martin Dlamini, editor of the online Swaziland News, published\na report that the monarch was in \u201ca critical health condition at Manzana Royal\nHospital\u201d after the king did not appear for services Friday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A rights group, the\nSwaziland Solidarity Network, reported that day that royal police raided\nDlamini\u2019s home and harassed his family. His newspaper has subsequently reported\nthat he is missing and wanted by police. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to\nreporting on the king\u2019s health, Dlamini has also published several critical\narticles on the king, whose lavish lifestyle is in stark contrast to the dire\npoverty faced by most Swazis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Swazi activists in\nSouth Africa say they believe the reports of the king\u2019s illness are true. South\nAfrica-based activist Lucky Lukhele, spokesperson for Swaziland Solidarity\nNetwork, said the king is \u201cseriously ill\u201d in the hospital. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said his\ninformation comes from close contacts within the royal family. He also said his\nnetwork had received reports that other members of the royal family are ill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Source: Voice of America<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"