Kingdom of Swaziland

1
Kingdom of Swaziland

• By Kervin Lloyd, Emily Lee
• Kenton Chance

2
By Kervin Lloyd
Kingdom of Swaziland

• History
• People

3
History of Swaziland

• inhabited by various different groups of people
  for a very long time
• human remains dating back 100,000 years belonging
  to the oldest homo-sapiens have been discovered
  in eastern Swaziland
• San (Bushman ) inhabitance evident from cave
  paintings among some of the first inhabitants of
  the region

4

• The Swazis have their origins in East Africa
  around the great lakes
• In the late 15th century as part of the general
  southward expansion of the Nguni people, the
  Swazis crossed the Limpopo river to settle in
  southern Tongaland (now part of Mozambique).
• Under their Chief Dlamini I - they remained there
  for 200 years, then moved now ruled by Chief
  Dlamini III, into the fertile Pongola valley (now
  part of South Africa).

5

• Economic pressure and land shortages soon caused
  skirmishes and battles with the neighbouring
  Ndwandwe clan
• This ultimately resulted in further migration of
  Swazis into what is now central Swaziland
• There, Swazis by way of absorption and conquest
  of Soho and baPedi peoples built a large Kingdom,
  covering an area three times the size of modern
  Swaziland.

6

• 1906 to 1968 governed by a resident commissioner
  who ruled according to decrees issued by the
  British High Commissioner for South Africa
• 1921 British established Swaziland's first
  legislative body - a European Advisory Council
  (EAC) of elected white representatives to advise
  the British High Commissioner on non-Swazi
  affairs.
• In 1921, after more than 20 years of rule by
  Queen Regent Labotsibeni, her son Sobhuza II came
  of age and ruled as Ngenyama (lion), head of
  Swaziland

7

• Under British rule, the colonial government held
  election in mid-1964 for the first legislative
  council in which the Swazis would participate
• King Sobhuza II and his Inner Council, formed the
  Imbokodvo National Movement (INM) party and in
  this election the INM won all 24 elective seats
• Swaziland became independent on September 6,
  1968.
• Swaziland's post-independence elections were held
  in May 1972 and INM won 75 of the vote

8
Recent History

• King Sobhuza II died in August 1982, and Queen
  Regent Dzeliwe assumed the duties of the head of
  state
• 984 an internal dispute led to the replacement
  of the PM and eventual replacement of Dzeliwe by
  a new queen, Regent Ntombi, whose only child -
  Prince Makhosetive became heir to the throne
• In 1986, when the prince comes of age, he is
  enthroned as Mswati III

9
The People

• The Swazi people comprise a single tribe made up
  of several clans - not unlike the Scots
• They settled in the area during the mid-18th
  century when they were called the Nkosi Dlamini
  and eventually became known as the Swazis
• The Swazis are a proud but peace-loving people
  with happy personalities and a keen sense of
  humour called Latins of Africa

10
The People

• The Swazi people comprise a single tribe made up
  of several clans - not unlike the Scots
• They settled in the area during the mid-18th
  century when they were called the Nkosi Dlamini
  and eventually became known as the Swazis
• The Swazis are a proud but peace-loving people
  with happy personalities and a keen sense of
  humour called Latins of Africa

11
Independence

• Swaziland became a self-governing state in 1967
  when Sobhuza II was recognized internationally as
  a king and the country acquired its own flag

12
The Monarchy

• One of only three in Africa
• (Morocco and Lesotho also have Kings)
• Africas sole remaining absolute monarchy
• Is a dual kingdom - with the King or (lion)
  ruling in conjunction with the Queen Mother or
  Ndiovukazi (she-elephant)

13
Sources

• Swaziland High Commission (Ottowa) Webpage
• Infoplease

14
Economy of Swaziland

• By Emily Lee

15
Overview

• Full name The Kingdom of Swaziland
• Population 1.1 million (UN, 2007)
• Capital Mbabane
• Area 17,364 sq km (6,704 sq miles)
• Major languages Swazi, English (both official)
• Major religions Christianity, indigenous beliefs
  
• Monetary unit 1 Lilangeni 100 cents

Source BBC country profile
16
Facts

• GDP 2.936 billion (2007 est.)
• GDP real growth rate 2.3
• Per capita GDP 4,700 (2007 est.)
• Unemployment rate 40 (2006 est.)
• Population below poverty line 69(2006)
• Inflation rate 8.1 (2007 est.)
• Agriculture products sugarcane, cotton, corn,
  tobacco, rice, citrus, pineapples, sorghum,
  peanuts cattle, goats, sheep
• Industries coal, wood pulp, sugar, soft drink
  concentrates, textiles and apparel

source CIA The World Factbook
17
Circumstances

• Lower middle income country - estimated that 69
  of the population lives in poverty.
• About 70 live in rural areas periodically
  ravaged by drought, resulting in food crises that
  threaten hundreds of thousands with hunger.
• Unemployment rate 40 - due to economy's
  inability to create new jobs at the same rate
  that new job seekers enter the market.
• Swaziland needs to increase the number and size
  of small and medium enterprises.

source CIA The World Factbook, U.S. Department
of State
18
Territory

• Nearly 60 of Swazi territory is held by the
  Crown.
• The balance is privately owned, much of it by
  foreigners.
• 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.
• Cattle are being used increasingly for milk,
  meat, and profit.

source CIA The World Factbook, U.S. Department
of State
19
Agriculture and Industries

• Leading export earner the sugar industry, based
  solely on irrigated cane
• Another export earner soft drink concentrate (a
  U.S. investment), wood pulp and lumber from
  cultivated pine forests.
• Agricultural exports Pineapple and citrus fruit
• Coal and diamonds mining for export and for
  domestic consumption.

source CIA The World Factbook, U.S. Department
of State
20
Facts

• Exports 1.926 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
• - commodities soft drink concentrates,
  sugar,
• wood pulp, cotton yarn, refrigerators,
  citrus and
• canned fruit
• - partners South Africa 59.7, EU 8.8, US
• 8.8, Mozambique 6.2 (2006)
• Imports 1.914 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.)
• - commodities motor vehicles, machinery,
  transport
• equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products
• chemicals
• - partners South Africa 95.6, EU 0.9,
  Japan 0.9 (2006)

source CIA The World Factbook
21
Railroads

• East to west the Goba line
• - export bulk goods from Swaziland through
  the Port of Maputo in Mozambique.
• mainly uses for exports of sugar, citrus, and
  forest products, with future usage of the port
  expected to increase.
• North-south rail link completed in 1986
• - a connection between the Eastern Transvaal
  rail network and the South African ports of
  Richard's Bay and Durban.

source CIA The World Factbook, U.S. Department
of State
22
Industrial Firms

• A number of industrial firms have located at the
  industrial estate at Matsapha near Manzini.
• Processed agricultural and forestry products,
  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.

source CIA The World Factbook, U.S. Department
of State
23
Foreign Relations

• The Southern African Customs Union (SACU)
  Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana, Namibia, and the
  Republic of South Africa Import duties apply
  uniformly
• The Common Monetary Area (CMA) repatriation and
  unrestricted funds are permitted.
• The United Nations, the African Union
• Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
  (COMESA), and Southern African Development
  Community (SADC).
• Diplomatic missions in Brussels, Copenhagen,
  Kuala Lumpur, London, Maputo, Nairobi, Pretoria,
  Taipei, the United Nations, and Washington.

source CIA The World Factbook, U.S. Department
of State
24
Other

• 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 issues its own currency, the lilangeni
  (plural emalangeni).

source CIA The World Factbook, U.S. Department
of State
25
Culture of Swaziland
26
Reed Dance (The Umhlanga)

• A traditional dance where twenty to thirty
  thousand of Swazilands maidens congregate and
  dance for the public. -wikipedia
• Maidens cut reeds and present them to the King
  and the queen mother and then dance.
• This ceremony takes place in late August or early
  September.

Source Swaziland Tourism Authority
(http//www.welcometoswaziland.com/)
27
Origin

• This tradition was to encourage young women to
  abstain from sexual activities and preserve their
  virginity until they were matured enough to get
  married.
• In order to prepare the girls for marriage.
  During their stay at the camps before the actual
  dance they are given certain tasks to perform in
  groups.
• Since there is a lot of groupwork involved, good
  communication skills are developed that help in
  solving a lot of problems in marriages.

Source http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umhlanga
28
The Dance

• It is a dance which attracts young maidens from
  every area of the Kingdom and provides the
  occasion for them to honor and pay homage to the
  Queen Mother (iNdlovukazi).
• Most of the participants are teenagers, some of
  whom are younger. They gather reeds from selected
  areas and the day of the Umhlanga begins with
  bathing and grooming prior to  appearing before
  the King and Queen Mother.

Source Swaziland Tourism Authority
(http//www.welcometoswaziland.com/)
29
The Dance

• Costume short beaded skirts with anklets,
  bracelets and jewelry and colorful sashes.
• The royal princesses wear red feathers in their
  hair and lead the maidens to perform before Their
  Majesties.

source Swaziland Tourism Authority
(http//www.welcometoswaziland.com/)
30
Reed Dance Festival 2007
Source http//tw.youtube.com/watch?vvKpzfS2kP1k
31
Reed Dance Festival 2008
Source http//tw.youtube.com/watch?vsbj8lmWE5xY
32
News on Swazi Culture

• Mbabane - Swazi maidens started arriving on
  Monday at the country's spiritual capital,
  Ludzidzini, ahead of this week's annual reed
  dance, where bare-breasted virgins danced before
  Africa's last absolute monarch.
• On Saturday and Sunday, the young women would
  parade before the queen mother and the king
  during a ceremony at which the monarch, who
  already had 13 wives, might pick a new bride.
• - news 24, AFP 28/08/2007
• http//www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1
  447_2172423,00.html

• Swaziland's King Mswati III on Thursday sent more
  than 50 000 young women into the fields to cut
  reeds for an annual ritual next week at which he
  may choose his 14th bride.
• "Since you know that the country is faced with
  these major activities, I urge you to behave
  yourselves and make sure that you display respect
  so that tourists would return to the country,"
  the Queen mother, Ntombi Twala, told the girls.
• Mail Guardian Online, AFP 28/08/2008
• http//www.mg.co.za/article/2008-08-28-swazi-maide
  ns-prepare-for-reed-dance

source Swaziland Tourism Authority
(http//www.welcometoswaziland.com/)
33
Succession In Swazi Kingship

• Swaziland Tourism Authority The successor to
  the throne is chosen in relation to the status of
  his mother. The Queen Mother will be chosen by
  the Royal Council after the King's death.
• Nobody knows how the Queen Mother is chosen
  exactly. (The) king must be only son, the only
  child and no siblings - Nomfundo Nkosi Dlamini,
  a niece of King Mswati lll
• The Royal family line, the Dlamini's, never
  intermarry the King is always a Dlamini, the
  Queen Mother is never a Dlamini.
• The Queen Mother may have only one son, as a king
  is not to be followed by blood brothers.

Source Swaziland Tourism Authority
(http//www.welcometoswaziland.com/)
34
Succession In Swazi Kingship

• The King is "Nkosi Dlamini" and is expected to
  unify his position by choosing wives from all
  sectors of the community.
• (Nkosi means king and Dlamini is the surname of
  the royal family.)
• The balance of power lies between the King and
  the Queen
• Mother the "Ngwenyama" represents the hardness
  as expressed in thunder, the Queen Mother or
  "Ndlovukazi" (The Elephant) the softness as in
  water.
• He must be single and if still a minor, the Queen
  Mother to the late  king automatically assumes
  responsibility of Regent until the prince is
  crowned "Ngwenyama". The present Queen Mother,
  Queen Ntombi ruled as Queen Regent until King
  Mswati lll was crowned in April 1986.

Source Swaziland Tourism Authority
(http//www.welcometoswaziland.com/)
35
Politics in the Kingdom of Swaziland

• By Kenton X. Chance

36
Government in Swaziland

• Monarchy
•  
• Chief of State HM King Mswati III (Since April
  25, 1986)
• Constitution signed by the King in July 2005,
  went into effect on 8 February 2006
• Head of Government Prime Minister Absolom Themba
  DLAMINI (since Nov. 14, 2003)
• Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and
  confirmed by the monarch

• King Mswati III of Swaziland addresses the 62nd
  United Nations General Assembly at the U.N.
  headquarters in New York September 26, 2007.
• from Reuters Pictures by REUTERS

37
Judicial System and Elections

• Legal system based on South African Roman-Dutch
  law in statutory courts and Swazi traditional law
  and custom in traditional courts accepts
  compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
• The monarch is hereditary prime minister
  appointed by the monarch from among the elected
  members of the House of Assembly
• - Source CIA World Factbook

• Bicameral Parliament or Libandla consists of the
  Senate (30 seats 10 members appointed by the
  House of Assembly and 20 appointed by the
  monarch to serve five-year terms) and the House
  of Assembly (65 seats 10 members appointed by
  the monarch and 55 elected by popular vote to
  serve five-year terms)
• High Court Supreme Court judges for both courts
  are appointed by the monarch
•  

38
Political Parties

• The status of political parties, previously
  banned, is unclear under the new (2006)
  Constitution and currently being debated
• Member of several regional and international
  organizations, including IMF, WTO, UN, UNESCO,
  WHO, ILO
• - Source CIA World Factbook

• RIGHT Swaziland troops fire tear gas at a small
  group of trade union and anti-government
  protesters, during a rally in the town of
  Manzini, Swaziland, Wednesday, Sep. 3, 2008.
• AP Photo by Schalk van Zuydam

39
Political Parties (2)

• Below Right Swazis demonstrate in 2007 to
  support calls for a multi-party system during a
  two-day mass stay away held respectively in
  Mbabane and Manzini.
• As riot police and plain-clothed officers kept a
  close eye on a mass march in the capital Mbabane,
  union leaders warned such shows of strength would
  be repeated if King Mswati III and his government
  did not meet their demands
• 14 months ago
• from Getty Images by AFP/Getty Images

40
Varying Views on Politics

• The people of this country still want to retain
  the monarch type of system. At the same time,
  they want democracy. So now you have culture and
  democracy, two different things
• Nations are like babies. They don't just stand
  up and walk. But now it is clear to everybody, we
  cant take this any longer. By tomorrow, we can
  mobilize thousands people can get to the
  streets. We have that power we have that
  capacity to do that. We are not the only ones who
  are angry here. There are a lot of angry comrades
  outside

• Recently, a government spokesman was bombed and
  a national court was bombed. So who knows what is
  going to fall. Right now, do (the comrades)
  have the will to kill, the will to liberate
  themselves? Are they convinced that the only way
  to do it is through violent actions? We can
  creep at night with our knives and kill them A
  knife is only about 20 rand. Today we can do it.
  It is only about time and proper organizing.
• Mphandhlana Shongue, Political Activist
• Source Without the King

41
Views on Politics (2)

• I keep in touch with people and sometimes I will
  call the people to come. We have a big gathering
  where we discuss issues political, economical,
  social, health issues and all the other issues
  which are there which needs to be discussed. With
  that, because the nation feels that whatever
  decisions I am making I make a decision that they
  are a part of it. So, to them, it is important
  that they can see that we relate to each other
  very well.
• HM King Mswati III
• Source Without the King

• The Swazi politics sic have been crowded with
  traditions. They have been telling the world that
  here in Swaziland we have got a home-brewed
  democracy which does not need the influences made
  of other democracies which means its defined
  according to the Swazi context as they see it.
  According to our understanding, democracy is a
  word which is universal, which is having one
  interpretation, the governments of the people, by
  the people. Unidentified man.
• Source Without the King

42
Views on Politics (3)

• Our mission is simple, yet solid and
  fundamental dialogue and peaceful negotiations
  are the key to the establishment and
  sustainability and of peace, security, stability
  and prosperity which happen to be the anchor
  pillars for sustainable economic development and
  trade integration for our region.
• "We are telling a world full of prejudices that
  we are a happy nation in spite of the challenges
  that face us," he said.

• - HM King Mswati III
• Address to Mark Swazilands 40th Anniversary of
  Independence
• Getty Images by AFP/Getty Images

43
Views on Politics (4)

• The way that the country is run, we are totally
  against it. We want a multi-party democracy. We
  asked for the constitution but I was now made
  without us.
• We pay very high taxes in this country but we
  get nothing back. It goes to the king. The
  members of parliament are just rubber stamps.
  Theres nothing they can do for the country. It
  is just a cheer waste of money. They are there
  getting large sums of money and there is nothing
  they can talk because the king is the absolute
  monarch. He decides, he does everything for this
  country. Now we say that he should be a
  constitutional monarch.
• - Ntombu Nkosi, President Ngwane National
  Liberatory Congress or (NNLC)
• Source Without the King

• Abigail Nhleko, 82, stares as her grandchildren,
  daughter-in-law and her grand-grandchildren sit
  around in a shack in the rural village without
  electricity or running water of Siweni, east of
  Swaziland.
• Getty Images by AFP/Getty Images

44
Views on Politics (5)

• A constitution that does not belong to the
  people is going to be used and that very
  constitution is like an idol, forcing the people
  to worship under oppression. The Bible says that
  we should no fear people who can only destroy our
  bodies. Even if their guns can be pointed at us
  we wont fear as they can only destroy our flesh
  and not out spirit. So says the Bible, not me. If
  you remain silent the stones will talk. - Rev
  Hanson Head of Swaziland Council of Church
• Source Without the King

• (The King) is a good man. He believes in his
  country. He loves everybody. We are all like the
  royal family. - Unidentified Swazi (from BBC)
• "Others in authority abuse their power, not the
  king. - Ncoyi Mkhonta (from International
  Herald Tribune)