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In Swaziland, Witches on Broomsticks Must Fly Low
Global Post ^ | May 13, 2013 | Katrine Dermody

Posted on 05/16/2013 4:22:48 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Like airplanes and helicopters, witches on broomsticks must also obey the Swaziland's aviation laws.

In Swaziland, the days when witches could enjoy the untethered freedom of flying high in the sky are, regrettably, over.

According to the marketing and corporate affairs director of the Civil Aviation Authority, Sabelo Dlamini, “A witch on a broomstick should not fly above the [150-meter] limit.”

So far no penalty exists for witches who fly below the firmly-defined 150-meter limit, though reports suggest that radio-controlled aircraft and kites are subject to the airspace regulation.

Dlamini's statement was prompted by the arrest of a private detective, Hunter Shongwe, who operated an unregistered toy helicopter with a drone-like video camera attached to gather surveillance information.

The arrest was the first of its kind in Swaziland, and thus represents a clear but confusing legal departure for the traditional authorities, the press, and the public.

When the Swazi press asked for clarification on the country's airspace laws, Dlamini elected to explain the new legal territory with a familiar and easy to understand metaphor — opting to use a witch’s broomstick to illustrate his point, because after all, a broomstick is considered the same as any other heavier-than-air airborne vehicle, right?

Wrong.

According to American Livewire, traditional brooms in Swaziland are comprised of bundles of sticks or twigs tied together with no handle.

And, while witches are known to use their brooms for applying or flinging “potions” and other cursed substances across large areas, they are not generally used for transportation purposes.

And therein lies Dlamini's crucial, metaphorical oversight.

However, even though witchcraft is something that is taken very seriously in Swaziland —a country where people firmly believe in it and routinely accuse others of using black magic on each other — it can be assumed that Dlamini used the flying broomstick example only to illustrate his point.


TOPICS: Local News; Travel; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: napl
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1 posted on 05/16/2013 4:22:48 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: Slings and Arrows; martin_fierro

Next, your pack of flying monkeys will have to be leashed. Is their no bounds to big government?


2 posted on 05/16/2013 4:23:43 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway
Hillary will be very upset.

I'm just curious how many incidents they've had so far, with witches sucked into jet engines and the like.

3 posted on 05/16/2013 4:26:22 PM PDT by BitWielder1 (Corporate Profits are better than Government Waste)
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To: nickcarraway

Given the topography of Swaziland ,this could cause a few problems....


4 posted on 05/16/2013 4:28:29 PM PDT by moose07 (the truth will out ,one day. liberals and logic: Never confuse the two! Hi MI# !)
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To: nickcarraway; Slings and Arrows; JoeProBono; Daffynition
Like airplanes and helicopters, witches on broomsticks must also obey the Swaziland's aviation laws.


5 posted on 05/16/2013 4:29:58 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (America 2013 - STUCK ON STUPID)
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: a fool in paradise

7 posted on 05/16/2013 4:40:13 PM PDT by JoeProBono (Mille vocibus imago valet)
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To: nickcarraway

Does this apply to Hillary?


8 posted on 05/16/2013 4:53:00 PM PDT by West Texas Chuck (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. That should be a convenience store, not a Government Agency.)
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To: JoeProBono

"Uhhh... wut?!!!"

9 posted on 05/16/2013 4:54:53 PM PDT by a fool in paradise (America 2013 - STUCK ON STUPID)
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To: nickcarraway

Let me guess, they are also restricted to VFR.


10 posted on 05/16/2013 4:59:12 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
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To: Army Air Corps

Taxes on eye of newt are going through the roof.


11 posted on 05/16/2013 5:08:38 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

It’s not so bad - they pay them by the pound, and they all weight the same as a duck.


12 posted on 05/16/2013 5:11:06 PM PDT by Billthedrill
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To: nickcarraway

Hillary;...... riding your ASwip2000 stick will require speed restrictions.. (make a note)...


13 posted on 05/16/2013 5:12:11 PM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole..)
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To: ALPAPilot

Aviation ping.


14 posted on 05/16/2013 5:14:00 PM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
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To: nickcarraway; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; Darksheare; OSHA; martin_fierro; ...
The Swazi national quidditch team is expected to file a protest.


15 posted on 05/16/2013 5:14:31 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have IngSoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: Slings and Arrows

What’s next, speed limits on flying saucers?


16 posted on 05/16/2013 5:18:36 PM PDT by MHGinTN (Being deceived can be cured.)
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17 posted on 05/16/2013 5:23:48 PM PDT by RedMDer (May we always be happy and may our enemies always know it. - Sarah Palin, 10-18-2010)
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To: Slings and Arrows

Surely there are no restrictions on the pigs when they fly.


18 posted on 05/16/2013 5:36:20 PM PDT by Conspiracy Guy (I voted Republican, no Conservative was on the ballot. 969 yall.)
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To: MHGinTN

probe control


19 posted on 05/16/2013 5:46:20 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: Conspiracy Guy

That only matters if Roger Waters decides to visit on his next tour.


20 posted on 05/16/2013 5:52:28 PM PDT by ZirconEncrustedTweezers (Some people take there grammar way to seriously.)
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