High price of kingship

Politics get complicated when an absolute monarch changes his mind

King Mswati III vies for the title of Africa's last absolute monarch with Mohammed VI of Morocco. Mswati is the more absolutist but his standing is falling so fast that some say the future of the monarch, and indeed the monarchy, is now at risk. The last cover of the monthly The Nation pictured him with the question: 'Your Majesty, do you really sleep easy?' The 32-year-old King , after a reign of 14 years, is still popular and has dealt skilfully with trades unionists and anti-monarchists. Nevertheless, political errors are fast weakening his position.

Article Tags:
Mswati, Mohammed, Morocco, Maguga, Sobhuza, South Africa, Sibusiso Dlamini, United States, , Lutfo Dlamini, Uganda, Obed Dlamini, Mario Masuku, Jan Sithole, Britain, The Nation

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