3 Apr 2012

King's birthday cattle obligations

5:39 am on 3 April 2012

King Mswati the Third of Swaziland has ordered his subjects to contribute cattle for his birthday celebrations, despite widespread poverty and food shortages there.

The Home Minister says chiefs hosting the party must provide cattle for slaughter on the day.

A sales tax of 14% was recently introduced in an effort to plug the country's budget deficit.