By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:King Mswati and his delegation is allegedly spending over R50million on accommodation at the United Arab Emirates(UAE), Dubai Atlantis expensive Hotel.

This ongoing extravagant spending within the corridors of power, escalates at the time when the country is relying heavily on foreign aid to fund critical social services particularly in the health sector affected by the recent Executive Order signed by newly inaugurated United States(US) President Donald Trump, halting donor funding.

It has been disclosed that, the King who attended the recently held World Governments Forum this week,travelled with about one hundred and fifty(150) members of the delegation including his children, wife Inkhosikati Zena Mahlangu, members of the Governing Councils, senior Government officials, security personnel, brothers and sisters.

But an investigation conducted by this publication uncovered that, one night costs over eighty-six thousand Rands(R86,000.00) at the Dubai Atlantis, according to information sourced from the Hotel’s website.

This means taxpayers are paying over R12million per-night as accommodation for the over 150 members of the King’s delegation and this, amounts to over R50million for the four(4) days or more King might spend in Dubai enjoying himself after attending the World Governments Summit.

But apart from that, each member of the delegation stands to benefit about five hundred thousand Rands(R500,000.00) as a travelling allowance depending on the seniority and this means, taxpayers will pay about R75million as travelling allowances for the benefit of the King’s loyalists and close relatives within the royal family.

The total costs of the King’s trip who will then travel to Ethiopia for the African Union Summit, allegedly amounts to over R250million and this include his personal allowance, accomodation and allowances for the entire delegation, costs of the private jet including parking and security.

King Mswati’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane told this Swaziland News earlier to contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a comment on issues involving traveling allowances but, Foreign Minister Pholile Dlamini-Shakantu was not immediately available for a comment.

On another note, eSwatini is struggling with a health crisis amid shortage of drugs in public hospitals,dozens have died within the various hospitals since the crisis erupted.

But suppliers are also struggling to receive payments from Government for services rendered,resulting to the collapse of the Small and Medium Enterprise(SME) indigenous companies who do business with the State.

The King’s Government is also struggling to fund the University of Eswatini(UNESWA) and other State institutions of higher learning, while a majority of civil servants are financially broke with no salary increment.

King Mswati rules eSwatini as an absolute Monarch and therefore, his extravagant spending is not questioned by Parliament.