SWAZILAND - MCC BACK ON RADAR

UNCLAS MBABANE 000236 AF/S (MHARRIS) MCC Lawrence Connell E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KMCA WZ SUBJECT: SWAZILAND - MCC BACK ON RADAR ¶1. SUMMARY: On August 8, 2008, Ambassador Maurice Parker met with King Mswati III and discussed a variety of topics, including Swaziland's Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) scorecard and qualification possibilities. King Mswati showed extreme interest and said he would organize a committee to address MCA eligibility before heading to an August 15 meeting in South Africa. END SUMMARY. ¶2. In an August 8 meeting with Ambassador Parker, King Mswati III responded enthusiastically to Ambassador Parker's encouragement to participate in the MCA. Mswati stated he wants to improve Swaziland's scorecard scores and that making reforms, such as providing universal education and improving health care service delivery, are possible. Mswati said he will create a committee to begin the MCA process before he leaves for South Africa on August ¶15. ¶3. COMMENT: King Mswati was excited to hear that Embassy wants to work with GKOS to address eligibility requirements and help navigate the MCA process. In light of Swaziland's neighbors (Lesotho and Mozambique) receiving substantial MCA funding, Post is not surprised at Swaziland's interest. Although Post has previously presented MCA benefits to GKOS officials, interest from the King should move MCA qualification to the front burner. Embassy notes, however, that GKOS is still substantially behind on meeting agreed-upon Global Fund objectives that overlap with some MCA indicators. Although Swaziland's new government will not be named until October, and actual operation not begin until even later, Post will utilize every opportunity to remind the King that progress toward MCA goals should be one of its priorities. END COMMENT. PARKER