Maravi

Mugabe gets standing ovation in Swaziland

Mugabe gets standing ovation in Swaziland
Agencies
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:28:00 +0000

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe received a rousing reception in Swaziland Saturday as he joined King Mswati III, for independence day celebrations. He was one a dozen heads of state and government attending the celebrations in Somhlolo Stadium outside the capital Mbabane, where over 15,000 people gathered to celebrate 40 years of independence from Britain as well as Mswati's 40th birthday.

A delighted Mugabe raised his fist in acknowledgement of the welcome before joining leaders from Tanzania, Madagascar, Uganda, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and Malawi in the stands. US assistant secretary for African affairs, Ambassador Jendayi Frazer was also in attendance.

Mswati, wearing a traditional leopard-skin cloth over a wrap skirt, an armband made from a cow's tail, and a halo of three red feathers - a sign of royalty - acknowledged that the mountainous kingdom of around 1 million people still faced enormous challenges.

But the monarch also stressed achievements in the area of infrastructure development, education, telecommunications and tourism.

"Today we are telling the world full of turbulence that we are a happy nation, even though faced with these challenges", Mswati told adoring crowds in the Mbabane stadium.

"I'm aware that many in the world might be wondering why we are so excited about the celebrations of our 40th anniversary," ... "The answer is simple. We are celebrating our nationhood," added Mswati.

In a nod to Swaziland's colonial past, columns of red-jacketed royal guards from the Swazi Defence Force marched to music from the army brass band in a British-style trooping of the colours.

The thousands of bare-breasted Swazi maidens who formed a guard of honour for the king as he drove around the stadium waving from an open-top BMW 4x4, a week after dancing for the king, lent the proceedings a more traditional feel.

Labels: MUGABE, SWAZILAND

posted by MrK @ 11:06 PM