Swaziland Facts

Government:

    Head of State:  King Mswati III and Queen Mother Ntombi
    Form of Government:   monarchy
    Capital:  Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (royal and legislative)

   Swaziland is one of the oldest monarchies on the African continent, with lineage dating back to the fifteenth century.  The country is rare among African countries in that much of the traditional systems of government were maintained through colonization.  The government is a mix between western and Swazi styles as a result of a new system adopted in 1973, when the 1968 adopted constitution was revoked. 
   Today, Swaziland is an independent nation of the Brittsh Commonwealth.  The King, who serves as monarch and head of state, appoints the Prime Minister (currently Themba Dlamini).  The Prime Minister heads the cabinet, and the King consults with both the cabinet and the bicameral parliament.  This is similar to western systems of government.  Parliamentary representatives are elected by the people.  
   The judicial system is also twofold.  There are traditional Swazi National Courts as well as constitutional courts.  The Chief Justice heads both of these.  In the event of contention betwen the systems, the constitutional court has final ruling power.
   The traditional side of Swazi government is called the Swazi National Council.  It is known in the vernacular as Libandla.  It is ruled jointly by the King, or Ngwenyama (lion), and Queen Mother, or Ndlovukati (she-elephant).  The King's position is inherited.  The Queen Mother is usually the natural mother of the king, but can also be a senior wife.  Her responsibilities are mainly centered around upholding traditional and cultural elements.
   King Sobhuza II reigned from 1921 until his death in 1982.  He was succeeded by Reigning Queen Mother Dzeliwe Shongwe, who ruled until 1983.  At this point, she was deposed by the mother of the prince chosen to succeed King Sobhuza II, Reigning Queen Mother Ntombi laTfwala.  LaTfwala reigned alone until 1986, at which point her son, King Mswati III, ascended the throne.  The two are Co-heads of State, according the constitution. 
   In the 1990s, political turmoil began to develop.  Students and laborers held protests and strikes, eventually leading the King to agree to loosening his grip on power.  He made promises of moves toward democratization and also claimed to support a new constitution.  Action on his words has yet to be taken.



CIA World Factbook – Swaziland. 5 Feb. 2004.  CIA.  2002. 
<http://www.cia.gov/cia/ publications/factbook/geos/wz.html>

Heads of State in Swaziland.  8 March 2004.  Worldwide Guide 
       to Women in Leadership.  2003.  <http://www.guide2women
       leaders.com/Swaziland_heads.htm>

Heritage Africa – Swaziland.  9 March 2004.  HeritageAfrica.com. 
2003.  <http://www. heritageafrica.com/wheretogoswaziland.
cfm>

Nationmaster.com – Swaziland.  10 March 2004.  Nationmaster. 
2004.  <http://www. nationmaster.com/country/wz>

Sibiya, Terence.  Choosing the King of Swaziland.  10 March 2004. 
Terence Sibiya’s Swaziland Pages.  2004.  <http://www. swazi.com/sibiya/inkhosi.html>

Swaziland.  4 March 2004.  Flags of the World.  2003.  <http://flagspot.net/flags/sz.html>

The flag of Swaziland was October 6, 1968.  The color red
represents the battles of the past, while the blue stands for peace
and stability and the yellow for prosperity and wealth of
resources, such as minerals.  The shield and the spear represent
protection of the country form enemies, with the black and white
symbolizing peace between blacks and whites in Swaziland.







The coat of arms represents the King (lion) and
Queen Mother (elephant).  The shield is a typical Nguni
shield, and the weapons are typical local weapons. 
Siyinqaba means "we are the tower of strength."

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Independence:

    Former Colonial Power: British
    Date of Independence:  September 6, 1968

   The history of colonization is Swaziland is comparatively peaceful to other African countries.  Thus, it is often referred to as the Little Switzerland of Africa.
   In the 1840s, the Boers (Afrikaners) entered the land and began trading for the right to graze cattle on Swazi territory.  The discovery of gold in the Lembombo Mountains in 1882 brought a flood of Europeans, and then Boers officially took control of Swaziland in 1894.
   In 1899, the South African War broke out between the Boers and the British.  The war continued until 1902, when the British took control of Swaziland.
   In the 1960s, a labor movement led King Sobhuza II to side with the British in hopes of winning their favor and regaining his diminishing power.  Consequently, when the British attempt to cede Swaziland to South Africa failed, a process of decolonization began.  On September 6, 1968, Swaziland was granted independence.


Appiah, Kwame Anthony and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., ed.  Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience.  New York: Basic Civitas Books, 1998.

CIA World Factbook – Swaziland. 5 Feb. 2004.  CIA.  2002.  <http://www.cia.gov/cia/ publications/factbook/geos/wz.html>

Heritage Africa – Swaziland.  9 March 2004.  HeritageAfrica.com.  2003.  <http://www. heritageafrica.com/ wheretogoswaziland.cfm>

Nationmaster.com – Swaziland.  10 March 2004.  Nationmaster.  2004.  <http://www. nationmaster.com/country/wz>

Swaziland.  27 Feb. 2004.  Africapage.  <http://www.jkersten.topcities. com/hollandpage/ swaziland.htm>

Prior to independence, Swaziland was a British
protectorate and thus flew the British Union Jack.

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Demographics

    Population:  1,161,219
    Languages:  English (offical; used for governmental business), siSwati (official)
    Religions:  Zionist (mixture of Christianity and traditional ancestral worship) 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, Islam 10%, Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish, and other 30%
    Ethnic groups:  97% African, 3% European

   The Kingdom of Swaziland is relatively ethnically homogenous.  Swazis comprise almost all of the African population, with only small numbers of Zulu, Tsonga, and Asians.  Because Swazis are in the majority, there has been little internal ethnic conflict.


Appiah, Kwame Anthony and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., ed.  Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience.  New York: Basic Civitas Books, 1998.

CIA World Factbook – Swaziland. 5 Feb. 2004.  CIA.  2002.  <http://www.cia.gov/cia/ publications/factbook/geos/wz.html>

Nationmaster.com – Swaziland.  10 March 2004.  Nationmaster.  2004.  <http://www. nationmaster.com/ country/wz>

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Economy

    Currency:  lilangeni (SZL)
    GDP (Gross Domestic Product):  $4.6 billion
    Per capita GDP:  4,093.95 per person
    GDP growth rate (est.):   2.5% (2002)                                                         
    Major Exports:  soft drink concentrate, sugar, wood pulp, cotton, yarn, refrigerators, citrus, canned fruit

    Export partners:  South Africa 72%, EU 12%, UK 6%, Mozambique 4%, US 4%
    Major Imports:  motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products, chemicals
    Import partners:  South Africa 89%, EU 5%, Japan 2%, Singapore 2%


   In Swaziland, subsistence agriculture makes up more than 80% of the population.  In recent years, the once booming mining industry has declined.  This has occurred for a number of reasons, ranging from a lower demand for asbestos to mineral depletion.

   Swaziland is one of the more prosperous African countries.  In the past few years, economic growth has been unsteady due to an inability to provide social services, such as health care, to the growing population.  Overgrazing, drought, and flood are all recurring problems. 

   Swaziland is largely dependent on South Africa as a trading partner.  Swazis rely on a small number of exports, the main ones being soft drink concentrate, sugar, and wood pulp.  A small amount of trade is also conducted with the European Union, and even smaller amount is exported to the former colonial partner, the United Kingdom.

Appiah, Kwame Anthony and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., ed.  Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience.  New York: Basic Civitas Books, 1998.

CIA World Factbook – Swaziland. 5 Feb. 2004.  CIA.  2002.  <http://www.cia.gov/cia/ publications/factbook/geos/wz.html>

Nationmaster.com – Swaziland.  10 March 2004.  Nationmaster.  2004.  <http://www. nationmaster.com/ country/wz>






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