PM refuses to sleep in “King’s bed” – News from Swaziland

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PM refuses to sleep in “King’s bed” – News from Swaziland

8:37 CAT | 09 Mar 2016

The Sipopo Villas, in Equatorial Guinea

Out of loyalty and respect to His Majesty the King, Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini refused a villa in Equatorial Guinea that was allocated to him for a three-day stay because the King once stayed in the same luxurious house.

The prime minister is said to have told the protocol officers from Equatorial Guinea that he would not sleep in the same bed and sit on sofas which were once used by his King.

The premier had been booked at Sipopo Villas, which boasts 52 luxury presidential villas, a conference hall, artificial beach, luxury hotel and an 18-hole golf course. It was built to initially host an African Union (AU) summit. The resort is 20 minutes from the centre of that country’s capital city, Malabo. African heads of State usually sleep at the specially constructed independent and exclusive dwellings.

A villa is a luxurious country residence.

Villas usually range from 1-20 bedrooms and offer additional living spaces: living rooms, dining rooms, fully-equipped kitchens and outdoor areas including verandas and pools.

They are usually equipped with amenities and a dedicated staff to cater to a visitor’s specific needs. Luxury villas are often more economical for travelling families and couples.

It has been established that the prime minister refused to be booked into the presidential villa in February 2015.

He had represented His Majesty the King as one of the guests in an Orange Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final won by Ivory Coast in a penalty shoot-out against Ghana.

Impeccable sources who accompanied the prime minister said the protocol officers had to look for an alternative place for the head of government to book in after he had insisted that there was no way he could sleep where the King slept.

Sources said he told the protocol officers of Equatorial Guinea that it was against Swazi culture and tradition to share a seat or bed with Ingwenyama (King).

“How can then someone not say the prime minister has usurped the King’s powers when he adores him (King) so much? In most of the prime minister’s addresses, have you noticed that he usually says, in his preamble: “His Majesty’s Government (Hulumende Wembube)? Let us face the facts as Swazis and not pull one another down,” said one of the sources within the government structure.

Prime Minister Dlamini vehemently declined to comment on the issue.

Source: Times of Swaziland