BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – The King’s Birthday and Independence Day Double Celebrations happen in five years.
This was said by Ministry of Home Affairs Communications Officer Mlandvo Dlamini today (April 12, 2024) during his live interview on Kusile Breakfast Show on Eswatini TV. Dlamini appeared to update Emaswati on the preparations of the upcoming King Mswati III’s 56th Birthday set to be held next week Friday (April 19, 2024) at Mankayane Sports Ground.
Dlamini then clarified on how the double celebrations have been done over the past years, after being asked by Eswatini TV’s Lungelele Magagula. Dlamini stated that the double celebrations started with the 40/40 Double Celebrations, which were held on September 6, 2008. The celebrations were held at Somhlolo National Stadium and the trend had been that every after five years, the country would celebrate both the King’s Birthday and the Independence Day.
He also mentioned that the last double celebration was held in September last year at Somhlolo National Stadium. During such events, he said the nation would come together and celebrate the life and times of their King as well as the independence of the nation. He said such occasions would instill a sense of pride among Emaswati so that they could be proud of being who they were.
Dlamini also mentioned that such an event would foster unity among Emaswati. He said unity was important for any country to prosper. He said this event has been celebrated since 1987, when the King had only one year after assuming the throne. He reminded the nation that His Majesty the King was born on April 19, 1968 and assumed his throne on April 25, 1986. That meant the King started celebrating his birthday as a King on April 19, 1987.
