Eswatini PM dies in South African hospital after contracting COVID-19

AFP | The prime minister of Eswatini, Africa’s last absolute monarchy, died in a South African hospital on Sunday after contracting Coronavirus, the government said in a statement.

Ambrose Dlamini, 52, had been hospitalized in neighboring South Africa in early December, 2 weeks after testing positive for COVID-19.

“Their Majesties have commanded that I inform the nation of the sad and untimely passing away of the Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini,” Deputy Prime Minister Themba Masuku said.

The prime minister “passed on this afternoon while under medical care in a hospital in South Africa,” he added, without detailing the cause of Dlamini’s death.

Dlamini had announced in mid-November that he had tested positive for COVID-19 but said that he felt well and was asymptomatic.

Dlamini, a businessman but political novice, was named prime minister in October 2018.

The head of government’s role is limited in Eswatini where the current King, names all ministers and controls parliament.

Formerly known as Swaziland, the kingdom of Eswatini has reported over 6,700 COVID-19 cases and 127 deaths among its population of 1.2 million people.