Times
of Swaziland reports that dozens of girls and young women were killed during
the weekend, as they travelled to the traditional festival where the King of
Swaziland was to pick a new bride from thousands of topless, dancing virgins.
It
has been a long time tradition in Swaziland (Swazi) which permits the King, Mswati, to
choose a new bride every year (August), in the Swazi Reed Dance
Festival where the King parades and tests topless under aged virgin girls
publicly to ascertain that their virginity was still intact.
The
Sherburne-educated king is known to pick his wives from the girls who perform
for him at the traditional dance, a tribute to the queen mother. The King had
chosen a 19-year-old virgin from the dancing maidens last year August, who
became his 14th wife.
.
“When
the open-topped truck collided with another vehicle, before being hit by a
second truck as it traveled along a motorway between the Swazi cities of
Mbabane and Manzini earlier this weekend, at least 38 girls who were to partake
in the annual event, lost their lives,” according to the report, “and about 20
survivors were being treated.”
Reports
say that the authorities in Swaziland are being accused of trying to cover up
the accident from human rights group.The Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN)
claimed the police attempted to discourage media report on the deaths.
Photographers
were however, restricted from the scene according to Swazi journalist, for
security reasons, but reports on the tragedy described the scene as chaotic, as
parents began to arrive at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital, in Manzini.
One
of the survivors, Siphelele Sigudla, 18, told newsmen,
“We
were about 50 on board the first truck that smashed into the Toyota van.”
The
SSN has called on the royal family to reconsider going ahead with the festival,
which sees about 40,000 participating in the eight-day ceremony.
“We
hope that the families of the deceased girls will hold the royal family
accountable for the deaths of their children,” the SSN group said in a
statement, as it alleged a similar incident had been covered up previously.
“The
least that the royal family can do at this moment is to cancel this year’s reed
dance.”
The
King in his condolence statement, said:
“We
all have heard about the dark cloud that has befallen the ‘imbali,” he said,
using the Swati language word for flower, used to refer to the groups of women
dancers.
Speaking
at the opening of an international trade fair in Swaziland’s economic center
Manzini, he promised that the affected families would be compensated; adding
that investigation into the accident was ongoing.
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