News 24
Mbabane - The Swaziland parliament on Monday decided to appoint a select committee to examine the merits and circumstances surrounding the controversial decision to purchase King Mswati III a new Bombardier Global Express executive jet.
The decision followed an inconclusive seven-hour debate over the $45m deal in the small kingdom's parliament.
Five members of the house of assembly, three senators and two cabinet ministers will serve on the committee and report back to the lawmaker.
A Sapa correspondent reported that both those for and those against the purchase in the end agreed that they could not decide the merits of the acquisition in the absence of proper information and supporting documents.
Those opposed to the acquisition say the money would be better spent on feeding the country's hungry.
Swaziland is currently suffering from a drought and is also in the grip of the HIV/Aids pandemic that has gripped most of Southern Africa in a stranglehold.
