Swaziland: fiscal crisis and political turmoil

In Swaziland – the landlocked nation almost completely contained within South Africa, and that is ruled by one of the world’s last absolute monarchs – there is a growing agitation for political reform. The government of king Mswati (SWAT-ee) III has been threatening agitators with prosecution, especially those who use new social media to promote their activities.

The editor of South Africa’s largest Catholic weekly Southern Cross newspaper, Gunther Simmermacher told Vatican Radio the country’s stagnant economy is one motor of dissatisfaction. “King Mswati has quite a reputation for rather enjoying the high life, while most Swazis are living in poverty,” he says, adding, “that is creating friction,” between the king and his subjects.

The king is also faced with disgruntled civil servants, who have been asked to take a steep pay cut as party of drastic measures to deal with a massive liquidity crisis.

Listen to Chris Altieri’s interview with Gunther Simmermacher…