King Pays Girls $18 a Month to Remain Virgins, In Bid To Fight HIV

  Swaziland's King Mswati III has reportedly announced to pay all teenage girls in the South Africa kingdom a monthly stipend of 200 rands ($18) for abstaining from sex and remaining a virgin. The funds for the projects are financed by the World Bank for tackling HIV/AIDS.


Local rumours, however, has it that the Swazi King, who already has 15 wives, brought in the new rule to ensure that he gets a disease-free new wife.

The Swaziland authorities, however, have rubbished the speculations and stated that King Mswati III brought in the legislation to curb HIV transmission in the sovereign state.

"The government will pay girls the allowances so they will have money to purchase necessities and can turn down money offered to them for sex", said Thabsile Dlamini, a health care worker in Manzini, as reported by South African website IOL.

The National Emergency Response Council on HIV and AIDS, a government department tasked with coordinating Swaziland's Aids response reportedly will be monitoring the girls to ensure that they are not having sex after they receive the money.