The government of eSwatini on Tuesday angrily denied viral online reports that King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute monarch who has 14 wives, had ordered men to have at least two marriages or face jail.
The story, carried by the Zambian Observer and picked up by several other online publications, said that Swazi men would have to marry several wives starting from June.
As well as 14 wives, King Mswati has more than 25 children and a reputation for lavish spending while 63 percent of his 1.3 million subjects in the kingdom formerly known as Swaziland live in poverty.
The government of eSwatini on Tuesday angrily denied viral online reports that King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute monarch who has 14 wives, had ordered men to have at least two marriages or face jail.
The story, carried by the Zambian Observer and picked up by several other online publications, said that Swazi men would have to marry several wives starting from June.
As well as 14 wives, King Mswati has more than 25 children and a reputation for lavish spending while 63 percent of his 1.3 million subjects in the kingdom formerly known as Swaziland live in poverty.
The story, first published on Monday, said the government would sponsor marriage ceremonies and offer houses to men who entered into polygamous marriages.
It said the king “has declared in… Swaziland that men will from June 2019 be required to marry at least two or more wives or be jailed if they fail to do so”.
Government spokesman Percy Simelane called the story “malicious” and “poisonous”.
“His Majesty has not made any pronouncement to that effect as it has never been an issue raised,” by the people, Simelane said.
He said the story was “not only an insult to the monarchy and the culture of eSwatini but a disgrace to journalism”.
The government has demanded that the newspaper retract its story.
LT Why then do you have to loop the story. Are you trying to embarrass the KING
“The government of eSwatini on Tuesday angrily denied viral online reports that King Mswati III, Africa’s last absolute monarch who has 14 wives, had ordered men to have at least two marriages or face jail.
The story, carried by the Zambian Observer and picked up by several other online publications, said that Swazi men would have to marry several wives starting from June.
As well as 14 wives, King Mswati has more than 25 children and a reputation for lavish spending while 63 percent of his 1.3 million subjects in the kingdom formerly known as Swaziland live in poverty.”” LOOPED
Nyati Constructions closed road projects, and are returning back to Eswati. They are claiming their gift of land at a golf course, and house they offered to Ba Edgar. In retariation Zambia start to dent Eswatini with bad press. Zambian PF are good at blackmailing, they will wash King Mswati is mad, watch.
Zambia….everyone is a liar…no wonder we dont develop….everything is jokes nothing serious comes out of Zambia….
This Zambian Observer online paper has become another WATCHDOG. They rejoice in publishing fake news. They are indeed an embarrassment to the our country. Any way what do you expect from those who worship their free massonary?
There is no smoke without fire.The dude is a king and has authority to instruct such ru.bb.ish things.Why is he embarrassed now……lol
zambian observer -FAKE NEWS!!
Fake Zambian journalist stop this tendency of publishing unconfirmed news just to gain popularity. Is this freedom of expression to write unsubstantiated news! Keep quiet if you have nothing credible to write about. It is an embarrassment to our country!
There are only two newspapers in Swaziland, the Observer and the Times of Swaziland.
Where and how did the Zambian Observer pick up the FAKE Swazi King’s story?
Though fake, the idea wouldn’t be a bad one.
I stopped long time ago reading Zambian observer FAKE NEWS.
Comment:This the so called Zambia observer what do they really observe? and all the way from Zambia just to go and fake the news in Swaziland really even civil servants have been blackmailed by this government to be publicizing fake news about other countries? watch Zambian media houses…
Zambian Obsever,your story is FAKE…may be one of journalists visited eSwatini and admired the beautiful ladies here. Note hat King does NOT have 14 wives… and the elderly and disabled are given social grants to live on.Children are given a least one meal at school.Please concentrate on your kwacha and the dirty streets….and your ugly women!
Uhmm…! Kwena bakweba.
Let the chap(s) behind this fake news carrier account. If the story is fake eswatini must make sure these guys account for this “fAke news” that is the only way responsibility will be instilled in some of these fake news carriers. Like ISIS this scourge of peddling in “fake” news need international cooperation to dismantle this growing cancer of lies.
While the King did not make it public, all eSwatini men are encouraged to marry more than one wife.
Marrying one wife is considered weak for a man.
So a weak man writes about it, it becomes fake news – REALLY!
They castrate male homosexuals in eSwatini.
There are no female homosexuals-WOW.
Zambian Observer reports blatant untruths. They were also behind the Fake No visa requirements for Zambians story. I Blane ZICTA for not shutting such down.
The Zambian liar,stop smoking.It seems you have never lived in swaziland. Enjoy kapenta and ifinkubala.