The climate is temperate in the west, but may reach 40 °C (104 °F) in summer in the lowveld. Rainfall occurs mainly in the summer and may reach 2 metres (6.6 ft) in the west.
The area that Swaziland now covers has been continuously inhabited since prehistory. HP Pavilion DV6948CA Battery
Today, the population is primarily ethnic Swazis whose language is siSwati, though English is spoken as a second language. The Swazi people descend from the southern Bantu who migrated from Central Africa in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Anglo-Boer War saw the United Kingdom make Swaziland a protectorate under its direct control. HP Pavilion DV6950EI Battery
Swaziland gained independence in 1968. Swaziland is a member of the Southern African Development Community, the African Union, and theCommonwealth of Nations. The head of state is the king, who appoints the prime minister and a small number of representatives for both chambers of parliament. HP Pavilion DV6950EJ Battery
Elections are held every five years to determine the majority of the representatives. A new constitution was adopted in 2005.
Some 75% of the population are employed in subsistence farming, and 60% of the population live on less than the equivalent of US$1.25 per day. HP Pavilion DV6950ER Battery
Swaziland's main trading partner is South Africa, and its currency is pegged to the South African rand. Swaziland's economic growth and societal integrity is highly endangered by its disastrousHIV epidemic, to an extent where the United Nations Development Program has written that if it continues unabated, HP Pavilion DV6950ET Battery
the "longer term existence of Swaziland as a country will be seriously threatened."[5] The infection rate in the country is unprecedented and the highest in the world at 26.1% of adults,[6] and over 50% of adults in their 20s.[5] According to the CIA World Factbook, HP Pavilion DV6950LA Battery
Swaziland has the lowest life expectancy in the world, with an average life expectancy of only 31.88 years.
Artifacts indicating human activity dating back to the early Stone Age 200,000 years ago have been found in the Kingdom of Swaziland. HP Pavilion DV6951LA Battery
Prehistoric rock art paintings date from ca. 25,000 B.C. and continue up to the 19th century.
The earliest inhabitants of the area were Khoisan hunter-gatherers.They were largely replaced by the Bantu tribes during Bantu migrations who hailed from the Great Lakes regions of Eastern Africa. HP Pavilion DV6955LA Battery
Evidence of agriculture and ironuse dates from about the 4th century and people speaking languages ancestral to current Sotho and Nguni languages began settling no later than the 11th century. The Bantu people known as the Swazis established iron-working and settled farming colonies in the 15th century after crossing the Limpopo river. HP Pavilion DV6958SE Battery
They experienced great economic pressure from the rival Ndwandwe clans from the south.[8]
The country derives its name from a later king, Mswati I. However, Ngwane is an alternative name for Swaziland andDlamini remains the surname of the royal house, while Nkosi means "king".HP Pavilion DV6960EH Battery
Scholarly history of Swaziland shows that independent chiefdoms and small kingdoms dominated by various clans were initially conquered and incorporated into the growing Ngwane kingdom ruled by members of the Dlamini clan sometime in the 18th and 19th centuries, long before British colonisation.[9] HP Pavilion DV6960EJ Battery
According to Swazi royalist tradition, these clans came to be classified in the Dlamini kingdom as theEmakhandzambile category of clans ("those found ahead", e.g. the Gamedze), meaning that they were on the land prior to Dlamini immigration and conquest, as opposed to the Bomdzabuko ("true Swazi") who accompanied the Dlamini kings, HP Pavilion DV6960ER Battery
and the Emafikemuva ("those who came behind") who joined the kingdom later. Emakhandzambile clans initially were incorporated with wide autonomy, and often in part by granting them special ritual and political status (cf.mediatisation), but the extent of their autonomy was drastically curtailed by King Mswati II, who attacked and subdued some of the clans in the 1850s.[9] HP Pavilion DV6960EW Battery
The autonomy of the Swaziland Nation was dictated by British rule of southern Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries. In 1881 the British government signed a convention recognizing Swazi independence. HP Pavilion DV6965ER Battery
However, controversial land and mineral rights concessions were made under the authority of the Foreign Jurisdiction Act of 1890 in terms of which the administration of Swaziland was also placed under that of the then South African Republic (Transvaal). Swaziland was indirectly involved in the Second Boer War (1899–1902). HP Pavilion DV6968CA Battery
The Swaziland independence Constitution was promulgated by Britain in November 1963 in terms of which a legislative Council and an Executive Council were established. This development was opposed by the Swazi National Council (liqoqo).
Despite such opposition, elections took place and the first Legislative Council of Swaziland was constituted on 9 September 1964. HP Pavilion DV6970EJ Battery
Changes to the original constitution proposed by the Legislative Council were accepted by Britain and a new Constitution providing for a House of Assembly and Senate was drawn up. Elections under this Constitution were held in 1967. Since 1973, HP Pavilion DV6974CA Battery
Swaziland has seen a rather quiet struggle between pro-multiparty activists and supporters of the current Tinkhundla(constituencies) System of governance or Grass Roots Democracy System.
In June 2011, Swaziland, fearing bankruptcy, asked for a financial bailout from South Africa.[10] HP Pavilion DV6976CA Battery
Government
The head of state is the king or Ngwenyama (lit. Lion), currently King Mswati III, who ascended to the throne in 1986 after the death of his father King Sobhuza II in 1982 and a period of regency. HP Pavilion DV6980EI Battery
By tradition, the king reigns along with his mother or a ritual substitute, the Ndlovukati (lit. She-Elephant). The former was viewed as the administrative head of state and the latter as a spiritual and national head of state, with real power counter-balancing that of the king, HP Pavilion DV6980EL Battery
but during the long reign of Sobhuza II the role of the Ndlovukati became more symbolic. The king appoints the prime minister from the legislature and also appoints a minority of legislators to both chambers of Libandla (parliament), with help from an advisory council. HP Pavilion DV6985SE Battery
The king is allowed by the constitution to appoint some members to parliament for special interests. These special interests are citizens who might have been left out by the electorate during the course of elections or did not enter as candidates. This is done in order to balance views in parliament. HP Pavilion DV6988CA Battery
Special interests could be people of gender, race, disability, business community, civic society, scholars, chiefs and so on. The Senate consists of 30 members which some are appointed by the king on recommendation of the advisory council and others elected by the lower house. HP Pavilion DV6990EL Battery
The House of Assembly has 65 seats, 55 of which are occupied by elected representatives from the 55 constituencies around the country, 10 appointed by the king on recommendation of the advisory council and the attorney general is the ex-officio member. Elections are held every five years. HP Pavilion DV6990LA Battery
In 1968, Swaziland adopted a Westminster-style constitution, but in 1973 King Sobhuza II on the advice of parliament at the time suspended it due to widespread complaints by citizens of the country. In 2001, King Mswati III appointed a committee to draft a new constitution. Drafts were released for comment in May 1999 and November 2000. HP Pavilion DV6998CA Battery
These were strongly criticized by civil society organizations in Swaziland and human rights organizations elsewhere. In 2005, the constitution was put into effect, though there is still much debate in the country about the constitutional reforms. From the early seventies, there was active resistance to the royal hegemony. HP Pavilion DV6922EZ Battery
However despite complaints from progressive formations, support for the monarchy and the current political system remains strong in a majority of the population. Submissions were made by citizens around the country to commissions including the constitutional draft committee that they would prefer to maintain the current situation. HP Pavilion DV6925ET Battery
The Swazi 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) elections: HP Pavilion DV6925LA Battery
House of Assembly – last held 19 September 2008 (next to be held in 2013) election results: House of Assembly – balloting is done on a non-party basis; candidates for election are nominated by the local council of each constituency and for each constituency the three candidates with the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to a single winner by a second round. HP Pavilion DV6925TX Battery
Geography
Swaziland lies across a geological fault which runs from the Drakensberg Mountains of Lesotho, north through the Eastern highlands of Zimbabwe, forms the Great Rift Valley of Kenya and, eventually, peters out in present-day Turkey. HP Pavilion DV6926NR Battery
A small, land-locked Kingdom, Swaziland is bordered in the North, West and South by the Republic of South Africa and by Mozambique in the East. Although Swaziland has a land area of only 17,364 km2, roughly the size of Wales or the American State of New Jersey, it contains four separate geographical regions. HP Pavilion DV6928US Battery
These run from North to South and are determined by altitude.
Swaziland is located at approximately 26°30'S, 31°30'E.[11] Swaziland also offers a wide variety of landscapes, from the mountains along the Mozambican border to savannas in the east and rain forest in the northwest. HP Pavilion DV6929NR Battery
Several rivers flow through the country, such as the Great Usuthu River.
Along the eastern border with Mozambique is the Lubombo, a mountain ridge, at an altitude of around 600 meters. The mountains are broken by the canyons of three rivers, the Ngwavuma, the Usutu and the Mbuluzi River. HP Pavilion DV6929WM Battery
This is cattle ranching country.
The western border of the country, with an average altitude of 1200 meters, lies on the edge of an escarpment. Between the mountains rivers rush through deep gorges making this a most scenic region. Mbabane, the capital, is located on the Highveld. HP Pavilion DV6930EI Battery
The Middleveld, lying at an average 700 meters above sea level is the most densely populated region of Swaziland with a lower rainfall than the mountains. Manzini, the principal commercial and industrial city, is situated in the Middleveld.
The Lowveld of Swaziland, at around 250 meters, is less populated than other areas and presents a typical African bush country of thorn trees and grasslands. HP Pavilion DV6930EK Battery
Development of the region was inhibited, in early days, by the scourge of malaria.
Climate
The seasons are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere with December being mid-summer and June mid-winter. Generally speaking, rain falls mostly during the summer months, often in the form of thunderstorms. HP Pavilion DV6930EL Battery
Winter is the dry season. Annual rainfall is highest on the Highveld in the West, between 1,000 and 2,000 mm (39.4 and 78.7 in) depending on the year. The further East, the less rain, with the Lowveld recording 500 to 900 mm (19.7 to 35.4 in) per annum. Variations in temperature are also related to the altitude of the different regions. HP Pavilion DV6930ES Battery
The Highveld temperature is temperate and, seldom, uncomfortably hot while the Lowveld may record temperatures around 40 °C (104 °F) in summer.
Economy
Swaziland’s economy is diversified, with agriculture, forestry and mining accounting for about 13% of GDP, HP Pavilion DV6930US Battery
manufacturing (textiles and sugar-related processing) representing 37% of GDP and services – with government services in the lead – constituting 50% of GDP. Title Deed Lands (TDLs), where the bulk of high value crops are grown (sugar, forestry, and citrus) are characterized by high levels of investment and irrigation, and high productivity. HP Pavilion DV6933CA Battery
Nevertheless, the majority of the population – about 75%—is employed in subsistence agriculture on Swazi Nation Land (SNL), which, in contrast, suffers from low productivity and investment. This dual nature of the Swazi economy, with high productivity in textile manufacturing and in the industrialized agricultural TDLs on the one hand, HP Pavilion DV6933CL Battery
and declining productivity subsistence agriculture (on SNL) on the other, may well explain the country’s overall low growth, high inequality and unemployment.
Economic growth in Swaziland has lagged behind that of its neighbors. Real GDP growth since 2001 has averaged 2.8%, HP Pavilion DV6938SE Battery
nearly 2 percentage points lower than growth in other Southern African Customs Union (SACU) member countries. Low agricultural productivity in the SNLs, repeated droughts, the devastating effect of HIV/AIDS and an overly large and inefficient government sector are likely contributing factors. HP Pavilion DV6940EC Battery
Swaziland’s public finances deteriorated in the late 1990s following sizable surpluses a decade earlier. A combination of declining revenues and increased spending led to significant budget deficits.
The considerable spending did not lead to more growth and did not benefit the poor. HP Pavilion DV6940EH Battery
Much of the increased spending has gone to current expenditures related to wages, transfers, and subsidies. The wage bill today constitutes over 15% of GDP and 55% of total public spending; these are some of the highest levels on the African continent. The recent rapid growth in SACU revenues has, however, reversed the fiscal situation, HP Pavilion DV6940EL Battery
and a sizable surplus was recorded since 2006. SACU revenues today account for over 60% of total government revenues. On the positive side, the external debt burden has declined markedly over the last 20 years, and domestic debt is almost negligible; external debt as a percent of GDP was less than 20% in 2006. HP Pavilion DV6940ER Battery
The Swazi economy is very closely linked to the South African economy, from which it receives over 90% of its imports and to which it sends about 70% of its exports. Swaziland’s other key trading partners are the United States and the EU, HP Pavilion DV6940EW Battery
from whom the country has received trade preferences for apparel exports (under the African Growth and Opportunity Act – AGOA – to the US) and for sugar (to the EU). Under these agreements, both apparel and sugar exports did well, with rapid growth and a strong inflow of foreign direct investment.
HP Pavilion DV6911US Battery
Textile exports grew by over 200% between 2000 and 2005 and sugar exports increasing by more than 50% over the same period.
The continued vibrancy of the export sector is threatened by the removal of trade preferences for textiles, the accession to similar preferences for East Asian countries, HP Pavilion DV6912TX Battery
and the phasing out of preferential prices for sugar to the EU market. Swaziland will thus have to face the challenge of remaining competitive in a changing global environment. A crucial factor in addressing this challenge is the investment climate. The recently concluded Investment Climate Assessment provides some positive findings in this regard, HP Pavilion DV6913CA Battery
namely that Swaziland firms are among the most productive in Sub-Saharan Africa, although they are less productive than firms in the most productive middle-income countries in other regions. They compare more favorably with firms from lower middle income countries, but are hampered by inadequate governance arrangements and infrastructure. HP Pavilion DV6915CA Battery
Swaziland's currency is pegged to the South African rand, subsuming Swaziland's monetary policy to South Africa. Customs duties from the Southern African Customs Union, which may equal as much as 70% of government revenue this year, and worker remittances from South Africa substantially supplement domestically earned income. HP Pavilion DV6915EF Battery
Swaziland is not poor enough to merit an IMF program; however, the country is struggling to reduce the size of the civil service and control costs at public enterprises. The government is trying to improve the atmosphere for foreign direct investment.
Health
Swaziland is critically affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic, which is now an existential threat to its society. HP Pavilion DV6915NR Battery
As reported in the 2009 CIA World Factbook, Swaziland has the highest HIV infection rate in the world (26% of all adults; more in other reports) and also the lowest life expectancy at 32 years, which is 6 years lower than the next lowest average of Angola. HP Pavilion DV6917CL Battery
From another perspective, the last available World Health Organization data in 2002 shows that 64% of all deaths in the country were caused by HIV/AIDS.[12] In 2009, an estimated 7,000 people died from AIDS-related causes,[13] from a total population of approximately 1,185,000.[14] HP Pavilion DV6917NR Battery
This translates into an estimated 0.6% of the population dying from AIDS every year. Chronic illnesses that are the most prolific causes of death in the developed world account only for a minute fraction of deaths in Swaziland; for example, heart disease, strokes, and cancer cause fewer than 5% of deaths in Swaziland in total, compared to 55% of all deaths yearly in the US.[15] HP Pavilion DV6918SE Battery
In 2004, Swaziland acknowledged for the first time that it suffered an AIDS crisis, with 38.8% of tested pregnant women infected with HIV (see AIDS in Africa). Prime Minister Themba Dlamini declared a humanitarian crisis due to the combined effect of drought, land degradation, increased poverty, and HIV/AIDS. HP Pavilion DV6919CA Battery
According to the 2011 UNAIDS Report, Swaziland is close to achieving universal access to HIV/AIDS treatment, defined as 80% coverage or greater. Estimates of treatment coverage range from 70% to 80% of those infected.[16]
Life expectancy has fallen from 61 years in 2000 to 32 years in 2009.[17] HP Pavilion DV6920EA Battery
Tuberculosis is also a significant problem, with an 18% mortality rate. Many patients have a multi-drug resistant strain, and 83% are co-infected with HIV.[18]
Public expenditure was at 4% of the GDP of the country, whereas private expenditure was at 2.3%.HP Pavilion DV6920EC Battery
here were 16 physicians per 100,000 persons in the early 2000s.[19][specify] Infant mortality was at 69 per 1,000 in 2005,[19][specify] with the WHO showing that 47% of all deaths under 5 are caused by HIV/AIDS.[12]
Culture
The principal Swazi social unit is the homestead, a traditional beehive hut thatched with dry grass. HP Pavilion DV6920ED Battery
In a polygamous homestead, each wife has her own hut and yard surrounded by reed fences. There are three structures for sleeping, cooking, and storage (brewing beer). In larger homesteads there are also structures used as bachelors' quarters and guest accommodation.
Central to the traditional homestead is the cattle byre, a circular area enclosed by large logs interspaced with branches. HP Pavilion DV6920EK Battery
The cattle byre has ritual as well as practical significance as a store of wealth and symbol of prestige. It contains sealed grain pits. Facing the cattle byre is the great hut which is occupied by the mother of the headman.
The headman is central to all homestead affairs and he is often polygamous. HP Pavilion DV6920ES Battery
He leads through example and advises his wives on all social affairs of the home as well as seeing to the larger survival of the family. He also spends time socializing with the young boys, who are often his sons or close relatives, advising them on the expectations of growing up and manhood. HP Pavilion DV6920ET Battery
The Sangoma is a traditional diviner chosen by the ancestors of that particular family. The training of the Sangoma is called "kwetfwasa". At the end of the training, a graduation ceremony takes place where all the local sangoma come together for feasting and dancing. The diviner is consulted for various reasons, such the cause of sickness or even death. HP Pavilion DV6920LA Battery
His diagnosis is based on "kubhula", a process of communication, through trance, with the natural super-powers. The Inyanga (a medical and pharmaceutical specialist in western terms) possesses the bone throwing skill ("kushaya ematsambo") used to determine the cause of the sickness. HP Pavilion DV6920TX Battery
The most important cultural event in Swaziland is the Incwala ceremony. It is held on the fourth day after the full moon nearest the longest day, December 21. Incwala is often translated in English as 'first fruits ceremony', but the King's tasting of the new harvest is only one aspect among many in this long pageant. HP Pavilion DV6920US Battery
Incwala is best translated as 'Kingship Ceremony' : when there is no king, there is no Incwala. It is high treason for any other person to hold an Incwala.
Every Swazi may take part in the public parts of the Incwala. The climax of the event is the fourth day of the Big Incwala. HP Pavilion DV6921LA Battery
The key figures are the King, Queen Mother, royal wives and children, the royal governors (indunas), the chiefs, the regiments, and the "bemanti" or "water people".
Swaziland's most well-known cultural event is the annual Reed Dance. In the eight day ceremony, girls cut reeds and present them to the queen mother and then dance. HP Pavilion DV6922ET Battery
(There is no formal competition.) It is done in late August or early September. Only childless, unmarried girls can take part. The aims of the ceremony are to preserve girls' chastity, provide tribute labour for the Queen mother, and to encourage solidarity by working together.
HP Pavilion DV6908EM Battery
The royal family appoints a commoner maiden to be "induna" (captain) of the girls and she announces over the radio the dates of the ceremony. She will be an expert dancer and knowledgeable on royal protocol. One of the King's daughters will be her counterpart.
Today's Reed Dance is not an ancient ceremony, but developed out of the old "umchwasho" custom. HP Pavilion DV6908TX Battery
In "umchwasho", all young girls were placed in a female age-regiment. If any girl fell pregnant outside of marriage, her family paid a fine of one cow to the local chief. After a number of years, when the girls had reached a marriageable age, they would perform labour service for the Queen Mother, ending with dancing and feasting. HP Pavilion DV6909TX Battery
The country was under the chastity rite of "umchwasho" until 19 August 2005.
Swaziland is also known for a strong presence in the handcrafts industry. The formalized handcraft businesses of Swaziland employ over 2,500 people, many of whom are women (per TechnoServe Swaziland Handcrafts Impact Study," February 2011). HP Pavilion DV6910CA Battery
The products are unique and reflect the culture of Swaziland, ranging from housewares, to artistic decorations, to complex glass, stone, or wood artwork.
Education
Education in Swaziland is now free at primary level mainly 1st and 2nd grades and also free for orphaned and vulnerable children but not compulsory. HP Pavilion DV6910EA Battery
In 1996, the net primary school enrollment rate was 90.8%, with gender parity at the primary level.[20] In 1998, 80.5% of children reached grade five.[20] The University of Swaziland provides higher education. The Swaziland National Library Service operates public community libraries throughout Swaziland and establishes school libraries in partnership with Fundza, a non-governmental organization and the African Library Project.[21] HP Pavilion DV6910ED Battery
Demographics
The majority of Swaziland's population is ethnically Swazi, mixed with a small number of Zulu and White Africans, mostly people of British and Afrikaner descent. Traditionally Swazi have been subsistence farmers and herders, but most now mix such activities with work in the growing urban formal economy and in government. HP Pavilion DV6910EG Battery
Some Swazi work in the mines in South Africa.
Swaziland also received Portuguese settlers and African refugees from Mozambique. Christianity in Swaziland is sometimes mixed with traditional beliefs and practices. HP Pavilion DV6910EL Battery
Many traditionalists believe that most Swazi ascribe a special spiritual role to the monarch. Residents of Swaziland have the lowest documented life expectancy in the world at 31.88 years, less than half the world average of 69.4.[22]
Languages
SiSwati[23] (also known as Swati, Swazi or Seswati) is a Bantu language of the Nguni Group, HP Pavilion DV6910ES Battery
spoken in Swaziland and South Africa. It has 2.5 million speakers and is taught in schools. It is an official language of Swaziland (along with English) and one of the official languages of South Africa.
About 76,000 people in the country speak Zulu.[24] HP Pavilion DV6910TU Battery
Tsonga, which is spoken by many people throughout the region is spoken by about 19,000 people in Swaziland.Afrikaans is also spoken by some residents of Afrikaner descent.
Religions
The most common religion in Swaziland is Christianity, which is adhered to by 82.70% of the total population. HP Pavilion DV6910TX Battery
Various Protestant and indigenous African churches, including African Zionist, constitute the majority of the Christians, followed closely by Roman Catholicism. There are also non-Christian religions practiced in the country such as Islam (0.95%), the Bahá'í Faith (0.5%), and Hinduism (0.15%).HP Pavilion DV6910US Battery
According to tradition, the original followers of the present Dlamini clan of the Swazi country 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, theNgwane, as they then called themselves, settled in northern Zululand in about 1750. HP Pavilion DV6911OM Battery
Unable to match growing Zulu strength, the Ngwane moved the center of their kingdom northward in the 1810s and 1820s. Under King Sobhuza I they established themselves in the heartland of modern Swaziland, conquering and incorporating many long-established independent chiefdoms, whose descendants also make up much of the modern Swazi nation. HP Pavilion DV6911TU Battery
According to Swazi royalist tradition, these chiefdoms came to be classified in the Dlamini kingdom as the Emakhandzambilecategory of clans ("those found ahead", e.g. the Gamedze), meaning that they were on the land prior to Dlamini immigration and conquest, as opposed to the Bomdzabuko ("true Swazi") who accompanied the Dlamini kings, HP Pavilion DV6911TX Battery
and the Emafikemuva ("those who came behind") who joined the kingdom later. Emakhandzambile clans initially were incorporated with wide autonomy, and often in part by granting them special ritual and political status (cf. mediatisation), but the extent of their autonomy was drastically curtailed by King Mswati II, who attacked and subdued some of the clans in the 1850s.[1] HP Pavilion DV6900 Battery
The Dlamini clan consolidated their hold under several able leaders. The most important was Mswati II, from whom the Swazi derive their name. Under his leadership from the 1840s to 1865, the Swazi expanded their territory to the north and west, and stabilized the southern frontier with the Zulu. HP Pavilion DV6900 CTO Battery
British Colonialism
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 was also during Mswati's reign that the first whites, Transvaal Boers, settled in the country. HP Pavilion DV6900ES Battery
Following Mswati's death, the Swazis reached agreements with British and South African Republic authorities over a range of issues, including independence, claims on resources by Europeans, administrative authority, and security, though the white parties later reneged on those agreements. HP Pavilion DV6901TU Battery
Over Swazi protests, the South African Republic with British concurrence established incomplete colonial rule over Swaziland from 1894 to 1899, when they withdrew their administration with the start of the Anglo-Boer War. HP Pavilion DV6901TX Battery
In 1902 British forces entered the territory, proclaiming British overrule and jurisdiction in 1903, initially as part of the Transvaal. In 1906 Swaziland was separated administratively when the Transvaal Colony was grantedresponsible government.
Anglo-Boer War
Swaziland was indirectly involved in the Second Boer War (1899–1902). HP Pavilion DV6902TU Battery
The beginning of the conflict found it administrated by the South African Republic, with the colonial headquarters set at Bremersdorp. In September, 1899, with war considered imminent, the colonists started evacuating the area. Ngwane V of Swaziland (Bhunu) was informed that the area would be left in his care during the absence of the white residents. HP Pavilion DV6903TU Battery
The Swaziland Police under Sgt Opperman started practicing for war while issuing rifles and ammunition to remaining burghers. On 4 October 1899, Special Commissioner Krogh issued an official notice of evacuation for "all white inhabitants" with the excecption of burghers eligible for active service. HP Pavilion DV6903TX Battery
Most of the British subjects were escorted towards the border with Mozambique, women and other South African civilians were left heading for various destinations. People with dual nationality were still subject to the draft, though unwilling to fight against their own people. Unsurprisingly, several of them escaped towards Mozambique or the Colony of Natal.[2] HP Pavilion DV6904CA Battery
It was not long before skirmishes involved the Swaziland forces. On 28 October 1899, the newly formed Swaziland Commando unit moved against a British police post at Kwaliweni. The South African unit counted about 200 burghers, while the outpost only had 20 men. Bhunu managed to warn the police post of the approaching attack. HP Pavilion DV6905EE Battery
The police retreated towards Ingwavuma, seat of a magistrate. The Commando burned the abandoned post and a nearby shop to the ground. ThenJoachim Ferrera led them towards Ingwavuma. The village was not better guarded and had to also be evacuated. The Swaziland Commando burned it to the ground, while the magistrate and his people escaped to Nongoma.[2] HP Pavilion DV6905EF Battery
Meanwhile, the Swazi people had been warned by Piet Joubert to remain calm and not involve themselves in the conflict. Bhunu instead found himself unrestricted from colonial authorities for the first time. He soon felt free to settle old scores with political enemies. HP Pavilion DV6905EM Battery
News of the violent deaths of diplomat Mnkonkoni Kunene and several others in time reached the Boer forces involved in the Siege of Ladysmith. Several of the dead had close ties to the colonial authorities. Joubert had to assure worried commanders that Swaziland was not turning against them. HP Pavilion DV6905ES Battery
Indeed, spies reported that Bhunu feared he had been bewitched. He was striking against whoever he suspected of the deed. On 10 December 1899, Bhunu died due to a serious illness. He had blamed it on sorcery, though contemporaries suspect it was alcohol-induced. His mother Labotsibeni Mdluli became regent. HP Pavilion DV6906TX Battery
She set about eliminating the surviving advisors and favourites of Bhunu.[2]
Swazi regiments were roaming the country during the internal conflicts. The South African authorities were worried that the violence could expand towards the south-western border of Swaziland, where Boer farms were cultivated by women and children. HP Pavilion DV6907CA Battery
They had the farms evacuated and the population transferred to Piet Retief. The farmers from Piet Retief, Wakkerstroom and their vicinities had made a practice of trekking their ship into Swaziland for winter grazing. In January, 1900, Francis William Reitz, the State Secretary of the South African Republic, HP Pavilion DV6907EA Battery
started issuing orders discouraging any sheep-herders from entering Swaziland. On 18 April 1900, any such entry was forbidden. The Swaziland Commando were by that point far from their initial homebase, fighting along the Tugela River.[2]
The British had their own concerns about Swaziland. HP Pavilion DV6907TX Battery
They suspected that supplies from Mozambique could be smuggled to the Boers through Swaziland. Queen-regent Labotsibeni was however attempting to maintain neutrality in the wider conflict, pre-occupied with securing the throne.
HP Pavilion DV6898CA Battery
Her grandson Sobhuza II of Swaziland was underage and there were other viable candidates for the throne among the House of Dlamini. In particular, Prince Masumphe. Masumphe was a cousin of Bhunu and a rival candidate for the throne since 1889. His line of the family maintained close relations with the Boers, the Prince himself educated at Pretoria. HP Pavilion DV6898EC Special Edition Battery
By May, 1900, the Queen was worried that the Boers would intervene against her in case of a succession dispute. She opened communications with the restored magistrate of Ingwavuma, arranging to flee to his area if needed.[2]
Her messages were passed to the government of Natal and from there to Cape Town, the capital of the Cape Colony. HP Pavilion DV6898ES Special Edition Battery
A reply by Johannes Smuts assured her that the British had not forgotten about the Swazi and British representatives would reliably return to Swaziland at an early date. The message might have reflected Smuts' own ambitions but his authority on such matters was rather questionable. HP Pavilion DV6899EA Special Edition Battery
But Frederick Roberts, Baron Roberts, a high-ranking military officer, was also convinced to start diplomatic contacts with the Queen. His representatives were to persuade the queen-regent of three things. First, the need to prevent the Boers from occupying the mountains of the area. HP Pavilion DV6899EC Special Edition Battery
Second, the necessity of formally appealing for British protection. Third, to make clear that the indiscriminate murders in Swaziland would have to end.[2]
The British contacts with the Swazi played a role in advance of their siege of Komatipoort, a nearby South African stronghold. HP Pavilion DV6899EE Special Edition Battery
In September 1900, once the town fell, the British were able to capture Barberton and its area. A number of Boers fled into Swaziland. Only for the Swazi to disarm them and confiscate their cattle. The end of South African presence in the area left open the question of what to do with Swaziland. HP Pavilion DV6899EF Special Edition Battery
Smuts had been campaigning since May to convince the British authorities to place Swaziland under their administration. By September, Smuts had gained some support from civil authorities. But not by military ones, since Roberts did not want to devote any of his forces to an invasion or occupation of the area. HP Pavilion DV6899EI Special Edition Battery
Nevertheless, Smuts attempted some diplomatic contacts with the Swazi. Not particularly successful ones. The indvuna Smuts met for discussions refused to give any information on the internal affairs of Swaziland or Boer activities.[2]
The fall of Komatipoort resulted in increasing the importace of Swaziland for the Boers. HP Pavilion DV6899EL Special Edition Battery
To maintain their communications with diplomatic and trade contacts inLourenço Marques, Mozambique, the Boers had to sent messengers through Swaziland. Which was difficult since British forces were allowed to pass through certain Swazi areas. By November 1900, HP Pavilion DV6899EN Special Edition Battery
the Queen was able to assure both Roberts and Smuts that she "was doing her best to drive Boers out of her country". A few armed burghers and their African allies, hostile to her government, were still active at times.[2]
On 29 November 1900, Roberts was relieved of his command. HP Pavilion DV6899EO Special Edition Battery
His replacement was Herbert Kitchener, Baron Kitchener of Khartoum. By late December, Smuts contacted the military secretary office of Kitchener concerning the Swaziland situation. Smuts had secured the position of Resident Commissioner of Swaziland though the British had no actual authority over the area. HP Pavilion DV6899EP Special Edition Battery
He attempted to convince Kitchener it was time to establish a permanent military presence in Swaziland. With himself taking charge of the area. Kitchener had a different view. Starting his own correspondence with Labotsibeni, Kitchener insisted on three points. First, the Swazi were still required to not take part in the war. HP Pavilion DV6899ER Special Edition Battery
Second, no British forces would be send in Swaziland unless the area faced a Boer invasion. Third, the Swazis were now directly under the authority of the British Crown, owing their loyalty to Victoria of the United Kingdom.[2]
In December 1900-January 1901, there were information that retreating Boers were attempting to flee through Swaziland. HP Pavilion DV6899ES Special Edition Battery
Eight British columns were sent to either force the Boer commandos to surrender or flee to Swaziland. A certain column under Horace Smith-Dorrien proceeded all the way to the Swaziland border, managing to capture several Boer wagons and large numbers of cattle and sheep on 9 February 1901. HP Pavilion DV6899EW Special Edition Battery
Most of the captured Boers were sent to the concentration camp ofVolksrust. On February 11, another column under Edmund Allenby was positioned at the southern border of Swaziland. On 14 February, Smith-Dorrien's forces reached Amsterdam. There he was contacted by envoys of the Queen-regent, requesting aid in driving the Boers off her land.
HP Pavilion DV6880ES Battery
In response, the Imperial Light Horseand the Suffolk Regiment were send into Swaziland.[2]
Joined by armed Swazis, the two regiments were able to capture about 30 Boers in an initial skirmish. However heavy rains soon slowed their advance through the country. On 28 February 1901, other 200 men of the British mounted infantry entered Swaziland. HP Pavilion DV6880EV Battery
Under Lt-Col Henry, this force managed to locate and capture the transport convoy of the Piet Retief Commando. About 65 Boers were captured in the operation. The remnants of the Commando retreated towards the southern border of Swaziland, only to get captured by the British forces stationed there. HP Pavilion DV6880EW Battery
By early March, Smith-Dorrien noted that the Swazis were pillaging Boer residences. By this time, Allenby had reached Mahamba and set camp there, Henry was pursuing another Boer wagon convoys and Queen-regent Labotsibeni was ordering her Impis to clear their land from the Boers. HP Pavilion DV6880SE Influx Special Edition Battery
Henry eventually managed to return to Derby with several prisoners, while Allenby and his forces reached the vicinity ofHlatikulu. The burthers had to limit themselves to "the hills of southwestern Swaziland".[2]
Surviving accounts from the Devonshire Regiment indicate that the Swazis were acting as "a ninth column, commanded by the Queen of the Swazis". HP Pavilion DV6883CL Battery
On 8 March 1901, remnants of the Piet Retief Commando, accompanied by women and children, were attacked by forces supposedly under Chief Ntshingila Simelano. The latter consisted of about 40 men, including two riflemen. 13 Burghers and one African guide were killed, several wounded, the others were scattered. HP Pavilion DV6884CA Battery
Some of the survivors later surrendered to the 18th Hussars. Ntshingila later denied any involvement in the massacre. In any case, the incident terrified several other Boers. Between 8 and 11 March, about 70 burghers and various women children chose to surrender to Allenby rather than face the Swazis. HP Pavilion DV6885CA Thrive Special Edition Battery
The British nevertheless warned Labotsibeni to cease further massacres.[2]
On 11 April 1901, Louis Botha corresponded with Kitchener, complaining that British Officers were inducing the Swazis to fight against the Boers. Claiming the result was the indiscriminate murders of Burghers, women and children by Swazi commandos. HP Pavilion DV6885EK Battery
Allenby attributed the killings partly to Swazi anxiety to counter Boer incursions into their territory and partly to their fear of Boer reprisals. That is what the Boers would do when the British eventually left. Allenby himself refused to allow large numbers of armed Swazis to join his column, though he still used a few of them as guides. HP Pavilion DV6885SE Battery
Smuts finally entered Swaziland during this month, though unable to establish his authority over any British forces.[2]
The presence of regular British troops allowed the Queen-regent to present to them her concerns over an irregular unit, "Steinaecker's Horse". HP Pavilion DV6887EO Battery
Created early in the war as a unit of adventurers and mercenaries under British command, they were well known for looting Boer property. But with the Boer inreasingly impoverished, they had turned their attention to the cattle of the Swazi. Labotsibeni complained to both sides that this unit consisted of common robbers occupying Bremersdorp. HP Pavilion DV6890ES Battery
Botha responded by sending a Commansdo Unit against the Horse. They were to avoid antagonizing the Swazi in any way. The Swazi National Council agreed to let them pass. Between 21 and 23 July 1901, the Ermelo Commando succeeded in forcing most of the "Steinaecker's Horse" forces to retreat, capturing about 35 men, killing or wounding a few and burning Bremersdorp to the ground.[2] HP Pavilion DV6890ET Battery
Both the British and the Boers continued to have access to Swaziland with occasional skirmishes occurring. On 8 November 1901, for example, the 13th Hussarscaptured 14 burghers near Mahamba. The skirmishes ended in February 1902 with the defeat of the final Boer unit in Swaziland.[2] HP Pavilion DV6890EW Battery
Post-war
Throughout the colonial period from 1906 to 1968, Swaziland was governed by a resident commissioner who ruled according to decrees issued by the British High Commissioner for South Africa. HP Pavilion DV6894CA Battery
Such decrees were formulated in close consultation with the resident commissioners, who in turn took informal and formal advice from white settler interests and the Swazi royalty. In 1921 the British established Swaziland's first legislative body—a European Advisory Council (EAC) of elected white representatives mandated to advise the British high commissioner on non-Swazi affairs. HP Pavilion DV6895ET Battery
In 1944, the high commissioner both reconstituted the basis and role of the EAC, and, over Swazi objections, issued a Native Authorities Proclamation constituting the paramount chief or Ingwenyama and King to the Swazis, as the British called the king, HP Pavilion DV6855EA Special Edition Battery
as the native authority for the territory to issue legally enforceable orders to the Swazis subject to restrictions and directions from the resident commissioner. Under pressure from royal non-cooperation this proclamation was revised in 1952 to grant the Swazi paramount chief a degree of autonomy unprecedented in British colonial indirect rule in Africa. HP Pavilion DV6855EE Battery
In 1921, after more than 20 years of regency headed by Queen Regent Labotsibeni, Sobhuza II became Ngenyama (lion) or head of the Swazi nation. In the early years of colonial rule, the British expected that Swaziland would eventually be incorporated into South Africa. HP Pavilion DV6855EG Battery
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. HP Pavilion DV6855EL Battery
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. HP Pavilion DV6855EZ Battery
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. HP Pavilion DV6858CA Battery
Independence
Having solidified its political base, INM incorporated many demands of the more radical parties, especially that of immediate independence. In 1966, the UK Government agreed to discuss a new constitution. HP Pavilion DV6860EI Battery
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. HP Pavilion DV6860EJ Battery
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. HP Pavilion DV6860EL Battery
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. HP Pavilion DV6860EP Battery
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, HP Pavilion DV6860EV Battery
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. HP Pavilion DV6860EW Battery
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. HP Pavilion DV6864CA Battery
Recent history
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'. HP Pavilion DV6865EL Battery
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, HP Pavilion DV6868EZ Battery
including direct and indirect voting, in the 1993 national elections.
Swaziland is governed under a form of constitutional monarchy, in which political power is shared by the king and parliament.Swaziland today is foremost ruled by a monarch, although for all of its administrative history prior to British colonization in 1903, it might have more properly been called a diarchy. HP Pavilion DV6870EE Battery
Monarchy
According to current Swazi law and custom, the monarch holds supreme executive, legislative, and judicial powers. History is short, however, and in Swaziland's case is punctuated with a 65 year reign (including a 23 year regency) of Sobhuza II of Swaziland. HP Pavilion DV6870EG Battery
The Ngwenyama (King, lion, representing the hardness as expressed in thunder) is a hereditary leader, rules the country, with the assistance of a council of ministers and a national legislature. The Ndlovukati (Senior Queen, preferentially the mother of the king, HP Pavilion DV6870EI Battery
she-elephant, representing softness as in water) is in charge of national rituals, and acts as regent if her counterpart Ngwenyama dies and the heir has not performed royal adulthood rituals or is indisposed. If the king's mother is no longer living, one of the king's wives may act as Ndlovukati. HP Pavilion DV6870EJ Battery
In Sobhuza II's case, his grandmother theNdlovukati Labotsibeni Mdluli was regent from his choice as infant heir in 1899 following the death of his father Bhunu until his accession to full authority in 1922, when his mother Lomawa Ndwandwe became the ndlovukati. Later in his long reign three other women became senior queen, HP Pavilion DV6870EL Battery
when an ndlovukati" died, another was appointed from among his senior wives.
The king and the senior queen rule together in theory, and did so in practice up until the reign of Sobhuza II, making the term "monarchy" somewhat misleading historically. Before colonization the senior queen acted as a check and counterweight to the king's power, HP Pavilion DV6870EW Battery
both through her direct control of some military forces and her control of rainmaking medicines and rites and of key aspects of the Ncwala national ritual that annually binds the fate of the king and the nation together. British policy and the strength of Sobhuza II's personality shifted power decisively toward the king and away from the senior queen during his long reign. HP Pavilion DV6870US Battery
During a period of intense succession struggles following the death of Sobhuza II, the Ndlovukati was assisted by Prince Sozisa Dlamini, the holder of a novel office, the Authorised Person, in-Libandla, and then was deposed and the mother of the heir, now King Mswati III was made ndlovukati prior to his full accession. HP Pavilion DV6871US Battery
Subsequently the constitution was revised to provide that where the Regent and the Authorised Person are not in agreement on any matter, the matter shall be referred to Bantfwabenkhosi (princes) and chiefs.
The King, according to the new constitution, is also Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces. He and in-Libandla have legal immunity. HP Pavilion DV6872LA Battery
Male succession
Succession is chosen in relation to the status of the potential king's mother. Ndlovukazi is chosen by the Royal Council after the King's death, she will be from an unrelated family. Within the aristocracy, the first wife is never the main wife — a second wife who has a higher pedigree will take precedence. HP Pavilion DV6874CA Battery
The Royal family line, the Dlamini's, never intermarry; the King is always a Dlamini, the Queen Mother is never a Dlamini. The king is not followed by blood brothers. He is "Nkosi Dlamini" and is expected to unify his position by choosing wives from all sectors of the community. HP Pavilion DV6875CA Battery
The balance of power lies between the King and the Queen Mother. The Royal Council plays a key role in the selection of the successor to the throne. Much of this tradition remains secret (or undetermined) — but it is rumoured that the new king must be single, and is usually a minor. His wives are important. HP Pavilion DV6875EG Battery
Polygyny
A Swazi king's first two wives are chosen for him by the national councillors. These two have special functions in rituals and their sons can never claim kingship. The first wife must be a member of the Matsebula clan, the second of the Motsa clan. HP Pavilion DV6875SE Influx Special Edition Battery
According to tradition, he can only marry his fiancées after they have fallen pregnant, proving they can bear heirs. Until then, they are Liphovela.
King Mswati III is often criticized for living so lavishly in a nation that is afflicted by one of the world's highest HIV infection rates. HP Pavilion DV6880EE Battery
His fleet of luxury cars, and the millions spent towards refurbishing his numerous wives' luxury mansions, are at odds with the approximately 34 percent of the nation that stand unemployed, nearly 70 percent of which live on less than a dollar a day, and with around 49 percent of adults who suffer from HIV. HP Pavilion DV6880EF Battery
Executive branch
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. HP Pavilion DV6880EG Special Edition Battery
At present, parliament consists of a 82-seat House of Assembly (55 members are elected through popular vote; the Attorney General as an ex-officio member; 10 are appointed by the king and four women elected from each one of the administrative regions) and 30-seat Senate (10 members are appointed by the House of Assembly, HP Pavilion DV6880EJ Battery
and 20 are appointed by the king, whom at least the half must be women). The king must approve legislation passed by parliament before it becomes law. The prime minister, who is head of government is appointed by the king from among the members of the House on recommendations of the King's Advisory Council and the cabinet, HP Pavilion DV6880EL Battery
which is recommended by the prime minister and approved by the king, exercises executive authority.
Legislative branch
Parliament, the Libandla has two chambers: the House of Assembly has 82 members, 55 members elected out of candidates nominated by traditional local councils, Battery
HP Pavilion DV6842TX Thrive Special Edition Battery
the Attorney-General as an ex-official member, 4 women elected for each of the regions and 10 appointed members; balloting is done on a nonparty basis; candidates for election are nominated by the local council of each constituency and for each constituency the three candidates with the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to a single winner by a second round, HP Pavilion DV6843EL Battery
x
and the Senate has 30 non-partisan members, 10 members elected by the House of Assembly and 20 appointed members, with at least half of them being women, as is required by law.
Political parties and elections
For other political parties see List of political parties in Swaziland. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Swaziland. HP Pavilion DV6843EL Battery
Political parties are banned by the constitution promulgated on 13 October 1978; illegal parties are prohibited from holding large public gatherings. At the last elections, 18 October 2003, only non-partisans were elected. One of them is a member of the opposition Ngwane National Liberatory Congress. Most opposition politicians boycotted the elections. HP Pavilion DV6843TX Battery
Constitution
The 2005 constitution is currently in force.[1] The constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended 12 April 1973 by a State of Emergency decree imposed byKing Sobhuza II, the father of the current King Mswati III. HP Pavilion DV6844EL Battery
The decree gave absolute power to the monarchy and banned organised political opposition to royal rule.
A new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but was not formally presented to the people. HP Pavilion DV6844EZ Battery
In 2001 King Mswati III appointed a committee to draft a new constitution.[1] The draft was released for comment in May 2003, and was strongly criticised by civil society organizations in Swaziland, as well as by Amnesty International and the International Bar Association, among others. HP Pavilion DV6844TX Thrive Special Edition Battery
Amnesty international listed the following criticisms of the draft constitution of 2003:
failure to protect fully the rights to freedom of conscience, belief, expression, opinion, peaceful assembly and association; HP Pavilion DV6845EO Battery
- failure to protect fully the right to life by, for instance, allowing law enforcement officials to use lethal force in situations where there is no threat to life posed to police or others;
- only partial protection of the rights of women, with for instance girls and young women not protected against forced marriage; and
A new draft was placed before the largely advisory parliament on November 4, 2004. The draft reportedly is substantially the same as the version issued in 2003.
Swaziland's two largest political organisations, the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) and the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC), HP Pavilion DV6846TX Battery
together with labour unions, challenged the 2004 draft constitution in the Swaziland's High Court. However, in March 2005 the court upheld a ban on opposition political parties, citing the 1973 State of Emergency decree of King Sobhuza II. "It remains the duty and function of the court to uphold and apply the laws of the land, HP Pavilion DV6847TX Battery
and especially so when constitutional issues are decided", the court ruled. The applicants indicated that they intended to pursue their case in the Court of Appeal.[3]
Trade unions in the country have organized repeated strikes to protest against the lack of labour and political rights and the draft constitution. HP Pavilion DV6848TX Thrive Special Edition Battery
This included a general strike on 25 and 26 January 2005, although reportedly not widely heeded.
Administrative divisions
For local administration Swaziland is divided into four regions (Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni), each with an administrator appointed by the king. HP Pavilion DV6850EC Battery
Parallel to the government structure is the traditional system consisting of the king and his advisers, traditional courts, and 55 tinkhundla (subregional districts in which traditional chiefs are grouped).
Foreign relations
Swaziland is a member of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) which the U.S. HP Pavilion DV6850EE Battery
began negotiating a Free Trade Agreement with in May 2003. The other members of SACU are Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and South Africa. Swaziland is further member of ACP, AfDB, C, ECA, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC,IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), HP Pavilion DV6850EI Battery
ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
The military of Swaziland is used primarily during domestic protests, with some border and customs duties; the force has never been involved in a foreign conflict. HP Pavilion DV6850EK Battery
The army has struggled with high rates of HIV infection, however since measures were put in place the rate is dropping.[2]
The King is the Commander-in-Chief of the Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF) and the substantive Minister of the Ministry of Defence. HP Pavilion DV6850EL Battery
However, he delegates the responsibilities of the day-to-day activities of the executive arm of the government.[4] There is a Defence Council, which is responsible for inter alia advising the King on all matters pertaining to the (USDF).[5] The (USDF) is commanded by Major General Stanley Dlamini; HP Pavilion DV6850EP Battery
the deputy commander is Brigadier General Patrick Motsa,[6] and the formation commander is Brigadier General Jeffry S. Tshabalala.
HIV/AIDS remains one of the major challenges to Swaziland’s socioeconomic development. HP Pavilion DV6850ER Battery
The epidemic has spread relentlessly in all the parts of the country since the first reported case in 1986.[1]
Periodic surveillance of antenatal clinics in the country has shown a consistent rise in HIV prevalence among pregnant women attending the clinics. HP Pavilion DV6850ES Battery
The most recent surveillance in antenatal women reported an overall prevalence of 42.6% in 2004. Prevalence of 28% was found among young women aged 15–19. In women ages 25–29, prevalence was 56%.[2]
The Human Development Index of the UN Development Programme reports that as a consequence of HIV/AIDS, HP Pavilion DV6850EW Battery
life expectancy in Swaziland has fallen from 61 years in 2000, to 32 years in 2009.[3]
From another perspective, the last available World Health Organization data (2002) shows that 64% of all deaths in the country were caused by HIV/AIDS.[4] In 2009, an estimated 7,000 people died from AIDS-related causes.[ HP Pavilion DV6853CA Battery
On a total population of approximately 1,185,000[6] this implies that HIV/AIDS kills an estimated 0.6% of the Swazi population every year. Chronic illnesses that are the most prolific causes of death in the developed world only account for a minute fraction of deaths in Swaziland; for example, heart disease, HP Pavilion DV6853CL Battery
strokes, and cancer cause a total of less than 5% of deaths in Swaziland, compared to 55% of all deaths yearly in the US.[7]
The United Nations Development Program has written that if the spread of the epidemic in the country continues unabated, the "longer term existence of Swaziland as a country will be seriously threatened".[8] HP Pavilion DV6853EA Battery
Cultural background
Traditional Swazi culture discourages safe sexual practices, like condom use and monogamous relationships. There is a cultural belief in procreation to increase the population size, and Swazis believe a woman should have a minimum of five children and that a man's role is to impregnate multiple partners. HP Pavilion DV6854CA Battery
Polygamy is common and men may never get married but still have many children from multiple partners.[3] Sexual aggression is common, with 18% of sexually active high school students saying they were coerced into their first sexual encounter.[1]
Many thousands of children have been orphaned by AIDS, and only 22% grow up in two-parent families.[9] HP Pavilion DV6838CA Battery
National response
In 2003, the National Emergency Response Committee on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA) was established to coordinate and facilitate the national multisectoral response to HIV/AIDS, while the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW) was to implement activities. HP Pavilion DV6838EZ Battery
The previous national HIV/AIDS strategic plan covered the period 2000–2005; a new national HIV/AIDS strategic plan and a national HIV/AIDS action plan for the 2006–2008 period are currently being developed by a broad group of national stakeholders. HP Pavilion DV6838NR Battery
To date, the six key areas of the plan are prevention, care and support, impact mitigation, communications, monitoring and evaluation, and management/coordination.[2]
Despite the widespread nature of the epidemic in Swaziland, HIV/AIDS is still heavily stigmatized. HP Pavilion DV6838TX Battery
Few people living with HIV/AIDS, particularly prominent people such as religious and traditional leaders and media/sports personalities, have come out publicly and revealed their status. Stigma hinders the flow of information to communities, hampers prevention efforts, and reduces utilization of services.[2] HP Pavilion DV6839CL Battery
On June 4, 2009, the USA and Swaziland signed the Swaziland Partnership Framework on HIV and AIDS for 2009-2013. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Reliefwill contribute to the implementation of Swaziland's multi-sectoral National Strategic Framework on HIV/AIDS.[10] HP Pavilion DV6839TX Influx Special Edition Battery
HIV-TB co-infection
Tuberculosis is also a significant problem, with an 18 percent mortality rate. Many patients have a multi-drug resistant strain, and 83 percent are co-infected with HIV.[11] There are roughly 14,000 new TB cases diagnosed each year. HP Pavilion DV6840EB Battery
The population of Swaziland is approximately 35 percent Protestant, 30 percent African Zionist, 25 percent Catholic, 1 percent Muslim and Hinduism (0.15%).[1]. Those statistics, however do not match CIA's data in Nationmaster, which specifies 66% protestants and 5.33% catholics[HP Pavilion DV6840EC Battery
The remaining 9 percent of the population is divided among the Baha'i Faith, Seventh-day Adventism, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), Branhamism, and other religious groups.[3] The Zionist Churches, which blend Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship, predominate in rural areas.[3] HP Pavilion DV6840EJ Battery
A large Roman Catholic presence, including churches, schools, and other infrastructure, continues to flourish.[3] The country forms a single diocese - the Diocese of Manzini.Followers ofJudaism, Islam, and the Baha'i Faith are generally located in urban areas.[3] HP Pavilion DV6840EL Battery
Islam in Swaziland probably dates to the colonial period, when many Muslims settled in the country from other countries under the dominion of the British Empire.[citation needed] Most immigrants from South Asia practice Islam.[3] There are fewatheists.[3] Missionaries continue to play a role in rural development. HP Pavilion DV6840EO Battery
The new Constitution, which went into effect on February 8, 2006, provides for freedom of religion. The Government generally respects freedom of religion in practice.[3] The US government received no reports of societal abuse or discrimination based on religious belief or practice during 2008.[ HP Pavilion DV6840EP Battery,HP Pavilion DV6840ER Battery,HP Pavilion DV6840ES Battery
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