By Joyce Namutebi

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni, his wife Janet and other heads of state on Saturday joined the people of Swaziland in celebrations to mark the kingdom’s 40th independence anniversary.

The celebrations held at Somtholo National Stadium in the Swazi capital, Mbabane, also coincided with the 40th birthday celebrations of the Swazi King, Mswati 111.

Present were presidents Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Hifikepunye Pohamba of Namibia, Armando Guebuza of Mozambique, Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi, Marc Ravalomanana of Madagascar and King Letsie III of Lesotho. Representatives of the governments of South Africa, Botswana, China and USA also attended the function.

Mswati noted that the nation had cause to celebrate the independence anniversary because it had, under God’s protection, realised peace, unity, stability and development.

He saluted Swazi heroes who fought along his late father to win the independence from Britain.He urged African countries to work for the unity of the continent, saying it was the only way to salvage the continent’s potential.

The king said although Swaziland had registered progress in education, health, tourism and infrastructure, it still faced the challenges of poverty, famine, drought and diseases, especially HIV/AIDS and TB. He appealed to the people, particularly the youth, to guard against the AIDS scourge.

He later hosted his guests and the people to a party at Ludzidzini Royal Palace in Mbabane, where they were treated to cultural and gospel music.
President Yoweri Museveni was among the several heads of state and government hosted by the king to a state banquet as part of the celebrations to mark the anniversary, a State House statement said.

Welcoming the guests at his Lozitha Palace in Mbabane, King Mswati stressed the importance of blending traditions and modernity.

He said his government was committed to promoting education and technology to accelerate development in the country and in Africa.

Mswati noted that Africa needed sound economies to improve the standard of living of its people.

Tanzanian President and chairman of the African Union Jakaya Kiwete assured Mswati of continued collaboration by other African countries to promote African unity. The US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Jendayi Fraser, graced the occasion.