MBABANE (AFP) — Swaziland has invited Robert Mugabe to attend a royal day of celebration marking 40 years of independence from Britain and King Mswati III's 40th birthday, media reported.
While world leaders have condemned as a sham Mugabe's victory in a Zimbabwean presidential run-off, Africa's last absolute monarch is "looking forward" to hosting its neighbour's president on September 6.
Swazi News, a weekly paper published on Saturday reported that Mugabe was one of 13 Southern African Development Community leaders invited to attend the day of royal festivities.
"The invitations were sent before the Zimbabwean presidential run-off. We are looking forward to hosting the one who is president of that country if he accepts our invitation," Foreign Ministry Principal Secretary Clifford Mamba told the weekly.
The cost of the festivities would cost close to 50 million emalangeni (4.2 million euros or 6.5 million dollars).
An official speaking on condition of anonymity told AFP that a fleet of new German-made cars were on their way to Swaziland and would be unveiled during the double celebrations popularly known as 40/40.
"New cars for the King, the Queen Mother, his wives and other senior royal family members have already been ordered and they should be arriving mid-August," the source said.
King Mswati III offended Mugabe when he chaired a meeting of regional leaders which called for the run-off election to be postponed.
Addressing a rally just before the run-off, Mugabe told thousands of his supporters that leaders like King Mswati III cannot teach him anything on multi-party elections.
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