King Mswati III sparked outrage after blowing more than R80 million on a lavish shopping expedition for his wives while citizens suffer without basic medical care. The monarch shipped over ten of his queens to Indonesia and Dubai aboard his private jet for an extravagant spending spree. More than 70 royal bodyguards tagged along for the journey that began Friday afternoon. Each security officer pocketed R500,000 in travel money while every queen received over R3 million for personal expenses. The royal party jetted off as hospitals across Eswatini ran short of essential medicines and struggling families watched loved ones die from preventable causes.
Flight records show the king's Airbus A340 carried the shopping party to their first destination in Indonesia before heading to Dubai's luxury malls. Six wives made the trip including Inkhosikati Nomcebo Hlalanani Zuma and Inkhosikati Siphelele Sicebile LaMashwama among others confirmed by travel documents. Senior wives LaMatsebula and LaMotsa skipped the adventure and attended an official anniversary celebration with their husband instead. Palace spokesman Percy Simelane brushed off questions about the trip and claimed his office handles state business rather than family shopping adventures. Critics blasted the monarchy for living like billionaires while ordinary people struggle to afford basic healthcare and face a crumbling public service system that fails to meet their most basic needs.
Flight records show the king's Airbus A340 carried the shopping party to their first destination in Indonesia before heading to Dubai's luxury malls. Six wives made the trip including Inkhosikati Nomcebo Hlalanani Zuma and Inkhosikati Siphelele Sicebile LaMashwama among others confirmed by travel documents. Senior wives LaMatsebula and LaMotsa skipped the adventure and attended an official anniversary celebration with their husband instead. Palace spokesman Percy Simelane brushed off questions about the trip and claimed his office handles state business rather than family shopping adventures. Critics blasted the monarchy for living like billionaires while ordinary people struggle to afford basic healthcare and face a crumbling public service system that fails to meet their most basic needs.
