Africa - Aid Money? What Aid Money

Remember this the next time you hear someone wants you to donate money to Africa.

Swaziland's King Mswati III has bought 10 new BMW series 5 cars for his wives.

Swaziland's media reports that it has cost him $820,000. The 36-year-old king frequently hits the headlines with stories about his lavish lifestyle.

Two months ago, Africa's only remaining absolute monarch was criticised for buying himself a $500,000 luxury car.

Swaziland has one of the world's highest Aids rates and about a third of his subjects rely on food aid handouts. [...]

As well as 10 wives, the king has three fiancees.

In recent years, he has asked parliament for $15m to build a palace for each of his spouses and $45m to buy a royal jet.

Street protests led to him abandoning the plans to buy a luxury jet.

Swaziland's unemployment rate stands at 40% while almost 70% of the country's one-million population live on an average daily income of $1 or less.

UPDATE

Some people blame the tsunami relief for the drop in donations to African nations.

Disaster relief officials in Africa are blaming a big drop in funding on the massive world response to December's Asian tsunami.

The UN's World Food Programme says countries in southern Africa suffering after several years of drought have been particularly badly hit.

Millions of people have been relying on food rations paid for by international aid which is now running out.

King Mswati is not exactly helping.
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