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King invited to watch AFCON official opening

21/01/2012 00:00:00 SISHO MAGAGULA

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MATSAPHA- His Majesty King Mswati III made his first external trip this year when he jetted out of the country to Equatorial Guinea yesterday.

The King will be attending the official opening of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which that country will be co-hosting with Gabon for the next three weeks.

The aircraft transporting the King took off at exactly 3:30pm at the Matsapha International Airport amid cheers from throngs of people who had come to bid the head of state farewell.

Accompanying the King were, among others, Inkhosikati LaMbikiza, Minister of Natural Resources and Energy Princess Tsandzile, Princess Sikhanyiso and Prince Lindani.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Coperation Mtiti Fakudze was also part of the King’s delegation. People started arriving at the international airport as early as 11am yesterday to see off the King. There was uncertainty over the King’s exact departure time.

About 100 people bade him farewell.

Among those present were members of the royal family, Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku, Cabinet ministers, Liqoqo chairman Prince Logcogco and emabutfo.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mphumelelo Hlophe was not forthcoming with details pertaining to the King’s trip.

When approached for comment at the airport yesterday, he refused to divulge information on the trip.

Equatorial Guinea president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mba-songo recently visited the country and was personally met at the airport by the King.

The two Heads of State are expected to meet again during the official opening of the Africa Cup today.

Comments

Oh my gosh! A delegation this huge amidst a financial crisis...we expected at least the Princess to go but rather disturbed by the cabinet ministers and others. It seems our leadership has yet to grasp the magnitude of the cashflow problems engulfing government with uncertainty of payment of civil servants, the billions owed to private sector and arrears backlog, the last thing you would expect is a gravy train, again! Who is going to serve us from ourselves here? I mean "silive sifake ingubo emlonyeni"I rest my case!
Jan 21, 2012, 9:01 AM, Burns Dlamini (Lobhoncela) (Burnspolitics@gmail.com)

We pray our king afike kahle leEquitorial :)...I am sure labanye bantfwu labangati lutfo batsi ''uyekuVacation''..nibobuta b4 u tell oda pple emanga..n some pple batsi they r christians but basho tintfo letingahambelani nelibhayibheli hha cha Emaswati yii ....
Jan 21, 2012, 9:01 AM, sme1 (lomygaga@yahoo.com)