Diplomat Boateng accused of hypocrisy for attending £7m party in poverty stricken nation

Paul Boateng, Britain’s high commissioner in South  Africa, has been accused of hypocrisy for attending the lavish birthday celebrations of King Mswati III in neighbouring Swaziland.

The former cabinet minister represented the government at the '40/40' festivities marking the absolute monarch’s 40th birthday and his kingdom’s 40 years of independence from Britain.

Campaigners say the £7m bill for the celebrations would have been better spent tackling chronic unemployment, malnutrition which affects 70per cent of the 1.1m population and the HIV epidemic which killed 10,000 people last  year.

Lucky Lukhete at the Swaziland Solidarity Network said the former cabinet  minister should have stayed away: 'It is hypocritical.

'The British support the pro-democracy groups in Swazilanland and encourage them in sham elections at the end of this month, but then send their representative to the king’s birthday party. How can they do that?

'They also walk tall about Zimbabwe and Robert Mugabe, but are happy to endorse the Swaziland king who treats his people badly. We cannot understand these double standards. Mr Boateng should have stayed away and sent a message to the  government.'

Mugabe also attended the banquet  and was widely cheered by crowds after climbing out of his official car with a 'Zimbabwe' licence plate.

British-educated King Mswati III, who is also known as ‘ngweyama’ or the lion, has 13  wives and has ruled Swaziland since 1986. Landlocked by South Africa and  Mozambique, an estimated 40 per cent of the population is HIV positive with 70 per cent living below the  poverty line.

King Mswati III arrives with warriors at the Somhlolo Stadium for his 40/40 celebration

One in five Swazis depend on international food aid and life expectancy  has nearly halved since 1998 because of the AIDS epidemic. It is now less than 31 years, according to UN figures.

Hundreds of HIV-positive women protested last month after it was revealed eight of the king’s 13 wives had been on a shopping spree in  Dubai to purchase birthday outfits.

Those who attended an open air birthday rally in a stadium on the outskirts of  the capital Mbabane also witnessed the royal family’s latest purchase – a fleet of 20 BMW 750s.

The King enjoys the £7million celebrations

The king, who attended Sherbourne public school in Dorset, appoints the prime minister and cabinet. Elections are due to take place later this month, but critics say with political  parties banned, choice is limited.

During the stadium visit, he told the crowd: 'We are telling a world full of prejudice that we are a happy nation in spite of the challenges that face us.'