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Introduction:
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Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured King MSWATI III, the world's last ruling monarch, to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy, although he has backslid on these promises in recent years. Swaziland recently surpassed Botswana as the country with the world's highest known rates of HIV/AIDS infection. |
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Geography
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Climate
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PEOPLE
The majority of the population is ethnic Swazi, mixed with a small number of
Zulus and non-Africans. Traditionally Swazis have been subsistence farmers and
herders, but some now work in the growing urban formal economy and in
government. Some Swazis work in the mines in South Africa. Christianity in
Swaziland is sometimes mixed with traditional beliefs and practices. Most Swazis
ascribe a special spiritual role to the monarch.
The country's official languages are Siswati (a language related to Zulu) and
English. Government and commercial business is conducted mainly in English.
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HISTORY
According to tradition, the people of the present Swazi nation migrated south
before the 16th century to what is now Mozambique. Following a series of
conflicts with people living in the area of modern Maputo, the Swazis settled in
northern Zululand in about 1750. Unable to match the growing Zulu strength, the
Swazis moved gradually northward in the 1800s and established themselves in the
area of modern or present Swaziland.
They consolidated their hold under several able leaders. The most important was
Mswati II, from whom the Swazis derive their name. Under his leadership in the
1840s, the Swazis expanded their territory to the northwest and stabilized the
southern frontier with the Zulus.
Contact with the British came early in Mswati's reign, when he asked British
authorities in South Africa for assistance against Zulu raids into Swaziland. It
also was during Mswati's reign that the first whites settled in the country.
Following Mswati's death, the Swazis reached agreements with British and South
African authorities over a range of issues, including independence, claims on
resources by Europeans, administrative authority, and security. South Africans
administered the Swazi interests from 1894 to 1902. In 1902 the British assumed
control.
In 1921, after more than 20 years of rule by Queen Regent Lobatsibeni, Sobhuza
II became Ngwenyama (lion) or head of the Swazi nation. The same year, Swaziland
established its first legislative body--an advisory council of elected European
representatives mandated to advise the British high commissioner on non-Swazi
affairs. In 1944, the high commissioner conceded that the council had no
official status and recognized the paramount chief, or king, as the native
authority for the territory to issue legally enforceable orders to the Swazis.
In the early years of colonial rule, the British had expected that Swaziland
would eventually be incorporated into South Africa. After World War II, however,
South Africa's intensification of racial discrimination induced the United
Kingdom to prepare Swaziland for independence. Political activity intensified in
the early 1960s. Several political parties were formed and jostled for
independence and economic development. The largely urban parties had few ties to
the rural areas, where the majority of Swazis lived. The traditional Swazi
leaders, including King Sobhuza II and his Inner Council, formed the Imbokodvo
National Movement (INM), a political group that capitalized on its close
identification with the Swazi way of life. Responding to pressure for political
change, the colonial government scheduled an election in mid-1964 for the first
legislative council in which the Swazis would participate. In the election, the
INM and four other parties, most having more radical platforms, competed in the
election. The INM won all 24 elective seats.
Having solidified its political base, INM incorporated many demands of the more
radical parties, especially that of immediate independence. In 1966, the U.K.
Government agreed to discuss a new constitution. A constitutional committee
agreed on a constitutional monarchy for Swaziland, with self-government to
follow parliamentary elections in 1967. Swaziland became independent on
September 6, 1968. Swaziland's post-independence elections were held in May
1972. The INM received close to 75% of the vote. The Ngwane National Liberatory
Congress (NNLC) received slightly more than 20% of the vote, which gained the
party three seats in parliament.
In response to the NNLC's showing, King Sobhuza repealed the 1968 constitution
on April 12, 1973 and dissolved parliament. He assumed all powers of government
and prohibited all political activities and trade unions from operating. He
justified his actions as having removed alien and divisive political practices
incompatible with the Swazi way of life. In January 1979, a new parliament was
convened, chosen partly through indirect elections and partly through direct
appointment by the King.
King Sobhuza II died in August 1982, and Queen Regent Dzeliwe assumed the duties
of the head of state. In 1984, an internal dispute led to the replacement of the
Prime Minister and eventual replacement of Dzeliwe by a new Queen Regent Ntombi.
Ntombi's only child, Prince Makhosetive, was named heir to the Swazi throne.
Real power at this time was concentrated in the Liqoqo, a supreme traditional
advisory body that claimed to give binding advice to the Queen Regent. In
October 1985, Queen Regent Ntombi demonstrated her power by dismissing the
leading figures of the Liqoqo. Prince Makhosetive returned from school in
England to ascend to the throne and help end the continuing internal disputes.
He was enthroned as Mswati III on April 25, 1986. Shortly afterwards he
abolished the Liqoqo. In November 1987, a new parliament was elected and a new
cabinet appointed.
In 1988 and 1989, an underground political party, the People's United Democratic
Movement (PUDEMO) criticized the King and his government, calling for democratic
reforms. In response to this political threat and to growing popular calls for
greater accountability within government, the King and the Prime Minister
initiated an ongoing national debate on the constitutional and political future
of Swaziland. This debate produced a handful of political reforms, approved by
the King, including direct and indirect voting, in the 1993 national elections.
Although domestic groups and international observers criticized the government
in late 2002 for interfering with the independence of the judiciary, parliament,
and freedom of the press, significant improvements have been made concerning
rule of law in the past two years. Swaziland?s Court of Appeals resumed hearing
cases in late 2004 after a two-year absence in protest of the government?s
refusal to abide by the court?s decisions in two important rulings. In addition,
the new Constitution went into effect in early 2006, and the 1973 proclamation,
which, among other measures, banned political parties, lapsed at that time.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS
On July 26, 2005 King Mswati III ratified Swaziland?s constitution. It went into
effect February 8, 2006. This is Swaziland?s first constitution in over 30
years.
According to Swazi law and custom, the monarch holds supreme executive,
legislative, and judicial powers. In general practice, however, the monarch's
power is delegated through a dualistic system: modern, statutory bodies, like
the cabinet; and less formal traditional government structures. The king must
approve legislation passed by parliament before it becomes law. The prime
minister, who is head of government, and the cabinet, which is recommended by
the prime minister and approved by the king, exercise executive authority. At
present, parliament consists of a 65-seat House of Assembly (55 members are
elected through popular vote; 10 are appointed by the king) and 30-seat Senate
(10 members are appointed by the House of Assembly, and 20 are appointed by the
king). House of Assembly elections were last held October 2003.
For local administration Swaziland is divided into four regions, each with an
administrator appointed by the king. Parallel to the government structure is the
traditional system consisting of the king and his advisers, traditional courts,
55 tinkhundla (subregional districts in which traditional chiefs are grouped),
and 366 chiefdoms.
Swaziland is a member of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), with which
the U.S. began negotiating a free trade agreement in May 2003. The other members
of SACU are Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, and South Africa.
Principal Government Officials
Head of State--King Mswati III
Head of Government--Prime Minister A. T. Dlamini
Deputy Prime Minister--Constance Simelane
Ambassador to the United States--Ephraim Hlophe
Permanent Representative to the UN--Phesheya Dlamini
Central Bank Governor--Martin Dlamini
Cabinet Ministers
Agriculture and Cooperatives--Mtiti Fakudze
Economic Planning and Development--Rev. Absalom Muntu Dlamini
Education--Themba Msibi
Enterprise and Employment--Senator Lutfo Dlamini
Finance--Majozi Sithole
Foreign Affairs and Trade--Senator Mathendele Dlamini
Health and Social Welfare--Njabulo Mabuza
Home Affairs--Prince Gabheni
Housing and Urban Development--Mabili Dlamini
Justice and Constitutional Affairs--Prince David Dlamini
Public Service and Information--Sgayoyo Magongo
Natural Resources and Energy--Dumsile Sukati
Tourism, Environment, and Communication--Thandie Shongwe
Public Works and Transport--Elijah Shongwe
Regional Development and Youth Affairs--Chief Sipho Shongwe
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ECONOMY
Swaziland ranks among the more prosperous countries in Africa. Most of the
high-level economic activity is in the hands of non-Africans, but ethnic Swazis
are becoming more active. Small entrepreneurs are moving into middle management
positions. Although 70% of Swazis live in rural areas, nearly every homestead
has a wage earner. The past few years have seen wavering economic growth, which
has been exacerbated by the economy's inability to create new jobs at the same
rate that new job seekers enter the market. This is due in part to the country's
population growth rate, which strains the natural heritage and the country's
ability to provide adequate social services, such as health care and education.
Overgrazing, soil depletion, drought, and floods are persistent problems.
Nearly 60% of Swazi territory is held by the Crown in trust of the Swazi nation.
The balance is privately owned, much of it by foreigners. The question of land
use and ownership remains a very sensitive one. For Swazis living on rural
homesteads, the principal occupation is either subsistence farming or livestock
herding. Culturally, cattle are important symbols of wealth and status, but they
are being used increasingly for milk, meat, and profit.
Swaziland enjoys well-developed road links with South Africa. It also has
railroads running east to west and north to south. The older east-west link,
called the Goba line, makes it possible to export bulk goods from Swaziland
through the Port of Maputo in Mozambique. Until recently, most of Swaziland's
imports were shipped through this port. Conflict in Mozambique in the 1980s
diverted many Swazi exports to ports in South Africa. A north-south rail link,
completed in 1986, provides a connection between the Eastern Transvaal rail
network and the South African ports of Richard's Bay and Durban.
The sugar industry, based solely on irrigated cane, is Swaziland's leading
export earner and private-sector employer. Soft drink concentrate (a U.S.
investment) is the country's largest export earner, followed by wood pulp and
lumber from cultivated pine forests. Pineapple, citrus fruit, and cotton are
other important agricultural exports.
Swaziland mines coal and diamonds for export. There also is a quarry industry
for domestic consumption. Mining contributes about 1.8% of Swaziland's GDP each
year but has been declining in importance in recent years.
Recently, a number of industrial firms have located at the industrial estate at
Matsapha near Manzini. In addition to processed agricultural and forestry
products, the fast-growing industrial sector at Matsapha also produces garments,
textiles, and a variety of light manufactured products. The Swaziland Industrial
Development Company (SIDC) and the Swaziland Investment Promotion Authority
(SIPA) have assisted in bringing many of these industries to the country.
Government programs encourage Swazi entrepreneurs to run small and medium-sized
firms. Tourism also is important, attracting more than 424,000 visitors
annually, mostly from Europe and South Africa.
From the mid-1980s, foreign investment in the manufacturing sector boosted
economic growth rates significantly. Beginning in mid-1985, the depreciated
value of the currency increased the competitiveness of Swazi exports and
moderated the growth of imports, generating trade surpluses. During the 1990s,
the country often ran small trade deficits. South Africa and the European Union
are major customers for Swazi exports.
Swaziland became eligible for the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) in
2000 and qualified for the apparel provision in 2001. AGOA created over 30,000
jobs, mostly for women, in Swaziland?s apparel industry. However, the industry
suffered in 2005-2006, due to both increased global competition as a result of
the end of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing (ATC) on January 1, 2005, and
the strong Rand (Swaziland?s currency is linked to the South African Rand at
par), which reduced exports.
Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, and the Republic of South Africa form the
Southern African Customs Union (SACU), where import duties apply uniformly to
member countries. Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa also are members
of the Common Monetary Area (CMA) in which repatriation and unrestricted funds
are permitted. Swaziland issues its own currency, the lilangeni (plural:
emalangeni).
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