BY BANELE MAGONGO
MBABANE – It is important for His Majesty King Mswati III to travel with a delegation when attending an international summit that benefits the country in many ways.
This was said by Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo in an interview on Eswatini TV’s Kusile Breakfast Show yesterday (Monday, 17 June, 2024).
Nxumalo was responding to concerns raised by some members of the public, who feel that the delegation that always travelled with the King when attending international meetings wasted taxpayers’ money.
The members of the public argue that the money spent on members of the delegation should be used for other needs such as ensuring the availability of drugs in public health facilities around the country. This concern was then brought to Nxumalo by Eswatini TV’s Senior Journalist Lington Gule, during the interview.
In response, Nxumalo said such an opinion was not accurate. He stated that the money used for such trips was budgeted for in advance. That money was not meant for supplying drugs to health facilities. Secondly, Nxumalo said the King, as it was with every Head of State, had to be guarded by certain security officials, who were part of the delegation. He also mentioned that it was unimaginable for people to think that the King had to risk his security in the name of reducing expenses. Nxumalo wondered what such people wanted to do the King because they seemed to be against the fact that he had to have a tight security detail.
Nxumalo emphasised the significance of international relations and diplomacy in fostering Eswatini’s development. He asserted that the King, in his capacity as the Head of State, routinely engaged in global summits and discussions to promote the nation’s interests and cultivate relations with other countries.
He went on to emphasise the significance of King Mswati III’s participation in global summits, particularly given his extensive experience as a long-standing head of state. He noted that the King’s presence at such events is not only necessary but also invaluable, owing to his deep knowledge of international affairs and his ability to engage with world leaders effectively.
