Swaziland - 4 March 2016

Swaziland Declares National Emergency as Drought Intensifies The government of Swaziland has declared a national emergency as the land-locked southern African nation continues to suffer the effects of a devastating drought. The Prime Minister, Dr B Sibusio Dlamini, said that the draught, which began in 2014 as a result of the El Nino weather event, has “deepened in severity, with a path that has defied regional weather forecasting” and has had “devastating consequences.” AllAfrica.com

  Swaziland: Gold Mine Adds to Swazi King’s Wealth King Mswati III’s share of the just-reopened Lufafa Gold Mine at Hhelehhele in the Hhohho region of Swaziland could be worth up to US$149 million. The King, who rules Swaziland as sub-Sharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, holds 25 percent of the mine ‘in trust for the Swazi nation’. He holds a quarter of all Swaziland’s mineral wealth ‘in trust’ but in reality he uses the money to fund the lavish lifestyle of himself and his vast Royal Family. AllAfrica.com