By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE:King Mswati’s lavish lifestyle funded with public funds is highly expected to be on the spotlight, subsequent to a decision by the United States Agency for International Development(USAID) officially terminating R1.3billion funding for critical health programs in eSwatini.

This decision comes after Donald Trump, the newly inaugurated US President halted donor funding for a period of ninety(90) days pending review, however, some eSwatini Non Governmental Organization(NGOs) were officially informed this week about the termination of the funding.

But King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane previously told this publication that, the “King’s budget is normally based on available funds”, he was asked to clarify if Mswati will consider reducing his budget amid the looming financial crisis in Government and the entire country.

Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Friday morning, Thembinkhosi Dlamini, the Executive Director of the Coordinating Assembly of Non Governmental Organizations(NGOs) confirmed that, some organizations received letters from USAID, officially terminating donor funding for certain projects.

“You will recall that,the funding was first suspended pending review and now, some projects funded by USAID have been terminated. This will not only affect NGOs but even Government because here, we are talking about R1.3billion for the entire country and for different programs, USAID was assisting health programs even in the army,” said the CANGO Director.

It has been disclosed that, soldiers were also benefiting from the donors as USAID was supporting their clinics within the Army Barracks including the provision of Antiretroviral(ARVs) drugs.

But amid the financial challenges in Government and the entire country, King Mswati spent millions hosting “Buganu Ceremony” and taking international trips with a huge delegation resulting to taxpayers paying over R200million for each trip as traveling allowances and other costs.

The King also owns two(2) private jets and a fleet of Rolls Royce cars in a country where about 70% of the population lives below the poverty line, with a collapsed health system.

Eswatini is also facing rampant corruption in the public administration and, the Government has not demonstrated a political will to fight corruption and end a culture of impunity.