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A politician from the southern African kingdom of Swaziland has proposed a in the tax rate on the nation's traditional healers. Majahodvwa Khumalo has urged the government to the tax to help solve his country's worsening economic situation. He believes the time is for upping the tax on the healers, known as 'sangomas'. Mr Khumalo said the sangomas have their fees in recent years but are still very little in tax. He told the Swazi parliament the healers needed to pay their share towards the country's economic recovery, saying: "A of our people consult traditional healers but the money they pay to government falls far too of the money they ."

The sangomas currently pay an fee of 10 emalangeni ($1.15) to ply their trade. Many Swazis visit the healers, who are a part of the nation's health service. Opponents say raising taxes on the sangomas would bring in very little . Swaziland is in financial straits. Its budget deficit has skyrocketed to 15 per cent of its GDP. Many say King Mswati III should do more to help his country. He spends a small on his many wives, lavish lifestyle, and a bloated . The sangomas feel they are being singled . They have already spent decades trying to themselves of a "witch doctor" given to them by Europeans. Western pharmacists are now studying their and medicines.