The Swaziland King’s Speech Proves Taxing

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In a brief eleven minute speech King Mswati III of Swaziland opened the new Swaziland Revenue Authority in Mbabane, in March 2011. Notably, the Swaziland King’s speech was short. So, that was a good thing. But it also proved to be heavy going.

Swaziland King's Speech
Swaziland King’s Speech Declares The New Mbabane Revenue Authority Open

In truth his subject matter wasn’t the best. How many of his audience really relished the prospect of a new Swaziland revenue department. Particularly that bit about raising and collecting taxes from one and all? So, a Swaziland King’s speech can prove a burden.

Swaziland King’s Speech Suggests Bureaucrat Speech Writing

His choice of words suggests an old English education. Yes, he was educated at Sherborne school, in Dorset. But the words might also have been written by an official speechwriter–an ancient retainer, perhaps.

For example, we had:

The setting up of the authority is clear testimony that, as a nation, time has come to strengthen our revenue collection mechanism.

and,

It is this regard that we need to rally behind the Revenue Authority and give the team all the support and cooperation they need to carry out this national duty.

We rarely hear these word and speech formations nowadays. And, of course, we don’t miss them. We did get the meaning of the words, however. That wasn’t the case with the Bahrain King’s speech. On that occasion he obscured his message with his words.

Purpose And Structure

But, the Swaziland King’s speech did have purpose and structure. He sign-posted the place marks in his speech to perfection. And, importantly, each section was brief and to the point.

He used words as if they were meant to impress. As if their choice said something about the King himself. Or, indeed, about Swaziland:

In this contemporary environment, characterized by volatile socio-economic challenges and unpredictable external conditions, countries need to safeguard the well-being of their people through a concerted effort to doing things in a more efficient and coordinated manner.

But 37 word sentences are a struggle to speak and a bigger struggle for an audience to understand. This style of speech writing didn’t do justice to the modernising subject of the Swaziland King’s speech.

The speech itself describes how a modern nation State needs a tax collection authority worthy of the modern world. However, the speech also suggests that the King and his courtiers have more taxing work to do.

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About the Author

The Principal Trainer at training business Time to Market. Now based in London, I run presentation and public speaking training courses, coaching sessions and seminars throughout the UK.

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