Capital: Mbabane (Administrative), SWAZILAND (Legislative) Umbuso weSwatini Population projection, 2010: 1·08m. (Kingdom of Swaziland) GDP per capita, 2001: (PPP$) 4,330 HDI/world rank: 0·547/133

KEY HISTORICAL EVENTS The Swazi migrated into the country to which they have given their name in the last half of the 18th century. The independence of the Swazis was guaranteed in the conventions of 1881 and 1884 between the British Government and the Government of the South African Republic. In 1894 the South African Republic was given powers of protection and administration. In 1902, after the conclusion of the Boer War, a special commissioner took charge, and under an order-in-council in 1903 the Governor of the Transvaal administered the territory. Swaziland became independent on 6 Sept. 1968. A state of emergency imposed in 1973 is still in force. On 25 April 1986 King Mswati III was installed as King of Swaziland. TERRITORY AND POPULATION Swaziland is bounded in the north, west and south by South , and in the east by . The area is 6,704 sq. miles (17,363 sq. km). De facto population (census 1997), 929,718 (489,564 females); density, 53·5 per sq. km. More than 50% of the population is under 18 years of age. The UN gives a projected population for 2010 of 1·08m. In 2001, 73·3% of the population were rural. The country is divided into four districts: Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini and Shiselweni. Main urban areas: Mbabane, the administrative capital (73,000 inhabitants in 1999); Manzini; Big Bend; Mhlume; Nhlangano. The population is 84% Swazi and 10% Zulu. The official languages are Swazi and English. SOCIAL STATISTICS 1996 births, 33,000; deaths, 9,000. Birth rate, 1996 (per 1,000 population), 35·4; death rate, 9·8. As a result of the impact of AIDS, expectation of life has gradually been declining. It was 58 years in 1995, but by 2001 was down to 36·5 years for males and 39·9 years for females. In 2002, 38·6% of all adults were infected with HIV. In Sept. 2001 King Mswati III told the teenage girls of the country to stop having sex for five years as part of the country’s drive to reduce the spread of HIV. Annual population growth rate, 1990–99, 3·0%. Infant mortality, 2001, 106 per 1,000 live births; fertility rate, 2001, 4·5 births per woman. CLIMATE A temperate climate with two seasons. Nov. to March is the wet season, when temperatures range from mild to hot, with frequent thunderstorms. The cool, dry season from May to Sept. is characterized by clear, bright sunny days. Mbabane, Jan. 68°F (20°C), July 54°F (12·2°C). Annual rainfall 56" (1,402 mm). CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT The reigning King is Mswati III (b. 1968; crowned 25 April 1986), who succeeded his father, King Sobhuza II (reigned 1921–82). The King rules in conjunction with the Queen Mother (his mother, or a senior wife). Critics of the king or his mother run the risk of arrest. A new constitution was adopted in Nov. 2003. There is a House of Assembly of 65 members, 55 of whom are elected each from one constituency (inkhundla), and 10 appointed by the King; and a House of Senators of 30 members, 10 of whom are elected by the House of Assembly and 20 appointed by the King. Elections are held in two rounds, the second being a run-off between the five candidates who come first in each constituency. 1527

B. Turner (Ed.), The Statesman’s Yearbook 2005 © Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited 2004 SWAZILAND There is also a traditional Swazi National Council headed by the King and Queen Mother at which all Swazi men are entitled to be heard. National Anthem. ‘Nkulunkulu mnikati wetibusiso temaSwati’ (‘O Lord our God bestower of blessings upon the Swazi’); words by A. E. Simelane, tune by D. K. Rycroft. RECENT ELECTIONS At the elections of 18 Oct. 2003 only non-partisans were elected. Political parties are illegal and advocates of multi-party politics are considered to be troublemakers. CURRENT ADMINISTRATION In March 2004 the cabinet comprised: Prime Minister: Absalom Themba Dlamini (sworn in on 26 Nov. 2003). Deputy Prime Minister: Albert H. Shabangu. Minister for Agriculture and Co-operatives: Mtiti Fakudze. Economic Planning and Development: Rev. Absalom Muntu Dlamini. Education: Constance Simelane. Enterprise and Employment: Lutfo Dlamini. Finance: Majozi Sithole. Foreign Affairs: Mabili Dlamini. Health and Social Welfare: Sipho Shongwe. Housing and Urban Development: Dumsile Sukati. Interior: Prince Gabheni Dlamini. Justice and Constitutional Affairs: Prince David Dlamini. Natural Resources: Mfomfo Nkambule. Public Service and Information: Themba Msibi. Public Works and Transport: Elijah Shongwe. Tourism, Environment and Communication: Thandie Shongwe. Government Website: http://www.gov.sz DEFENCE Army Air Wing. There are two Israeli-built Arava transports with weapon attachments for light attack duties. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Swaziland is a member of the UN, WTO, the African Union, African Development Bank, COMESA, SADC, the Commonwealth and is an ACP member state of the ACP-EU relationship. ECONOMY Industry accounted for 38·7% of GDP in 1998, services 45·3% and agriculture 16·0%. Currency. The unit of currency is the lilangeni (plural emalangeni) (SZL) of 100 cents but Swaziland remains in the Common Monetary Area and the South African rand is legal tender. In 2002 inflation was 11·8%. In June 2002 foreign exchange reserves were US$253m. and total money supply was 832m. emalangeni. Budget. The fiscal year begins on 1 April. Total revenue in financial year 2000 totalled 2,708·2m. emalangeni and total expenditure 2,899·7m. emalangeni. Performance. Real GDP growth was 1·6% in 2002 (1·8% in 2001). Total GDP in 2002 was US$1·2bn. Banking and Finance. The central bank and bank of issue is the Central Bank of Swaziland (Governor, Martin Dlamini), established in 1974. There were 24 commercial banks in 1992. Foreign banks include Nedbank, Standard Chartered, Stanbic and First National. The Swaziland Development and Savings Bank concentrates on agricultural and housing loans. In 1990 Swaziland Stock Brokers was established to trade in stocks and shares for institutional and private clients. ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES Environment. According to the World Bank Atlas Swaziland’s carbon dioxide emissions were the equivalent of 0·4 tonnes per capita in 1999. Electricity. Installed capacity was 50,000 kW in 1993. Production was 420m. kWh in 1998; consumption per capita was 612 kWh in 1993. Swaziland imports about 60% of its electricity from .

1528 SWAZILAND Minerals. Output (in tonnes) in 1996: coal, 126,000; asbestos (1995), 28,591; quarry stone (1995), 117,175 cu. metres. Diamond production was 64,000 carats in 1994. The diamond mine closed down in 1998 and the asbestos mine in 2000. The oldest known mine (iron ore) in the world, dating back to 41,000 BC, was located at the Lion Cavern Site on Ngwenya Mountain. Agriculture. In 2000 there were 178,000 ha of arable land and 12,000 ha of permanent cropland. Production (2000, in 1,000 tonnes): sugarcane, 4,436; maize, 72; grapefruit and pomelos, 47; oranges, 36; seed cotton, 23; cottonseed, 15; pineapples, 11; groundnuts, 8; cotton lint, 7. Livestock (2000): cattle, 610,000; goats, 440,000; pigs, 33,000; chickens, 3m. Forestry. Forests covered 146,000 ha in 1995, or 8·5% of the land area. In 2001 timber production was 890,000 cu. metres. Fisheries. Estimated total catch, 2001, approximately 70 tonnes, exclusively from inland waters. INDUSTRY Most industries are based on processing agricultural products and timber. Footwear and textiles are also manufactured, and some engineering products. Labour. In June 1996, 89,860 persons were in formal employment; 15,892 Swazis worked in gold mines in South Africa in 1994. Unemployment rose to 30% in 1999. Trade Unions. In 1998 there were 21 affiliated trade unions grouped in the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions with a combined membership of 83,000, and four unions grouped in the Swaziland Federation of Labour. INTERNATIONAL TRADE Swaziland has a customs union with South Africa and receives a pro rata share of the dues collected. External debt was US$308m. in 2001. Imports and Exports. In 2002 imports (f.o.b.) amounted to US$1,034·6m. (US$1,116·4m. in 2001); exports (f.o.b.) US$955·2m. (US$1,039·7m. in 2001). Main export commodities are soft drink concentrates, , wood pulp and cotton yarn; main import products are motor vehicles, machinery, transport equipment, foodstuffs, petroleum products and chemicals. By far the most significant trading partner is South Africa. In 1997–98, 82·9% of imports came from South Africa; 74·0% of exports went to South Africa in 1997. COMMUNICATIONS Roads. The total length of roads in 1998 was 3,247 km, of which 1,660 km were main roads. There were 34,064 passenger cars in 1998 plus 30,941 trucks and vans and 4,089 buses and coaches. There were 4,801 road accidents in 1998 with 278 fatalities. Rail. In 1997 the system comprised 301 km of route (1,067 mm gauge). Freight tonne-km in 2000 came to 875m. Civil Aviation. There is an international airport at Manzini (). Swazi Express Airways had flights in 2003 to Durban and . In 1999 scheduled airline traffic of Swaziland-based carriers flew 0·6m. km, carrying 12,000 passengers (all on international flights). Telecommunications. Swaziland had 98,100 telephone subscribers in 2002, or 95·0 for every 1,000 persons, and 25,000 PCs were in use. In 1996 there were 1,200 fax machines. There were around 20,000 Internet users and 63,000 mobile phone subscribers in 2002. Postal Services. There were 60 post offices in 1997, or one for every 15,200 persons. SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS Justice. The constitutional courts practice Roman-Dutch law. The judiciary is headed by the Chief Justice. There is a High Court and various Magistrates and Courts. A Court of Appeal with a President and three Judges deals with appeals from the High Court. There are 16 courts of first instance. There are also traditional Swazi National Courts. 1529 SWAZILAND The population in penal institutions in Sept. 1998 was 2,221 (240 per 100,000 of national population). Religion. There are about 0·12m. Christians and about 30,000 of other faiths. Education. In 1998 there were 446 pre-schools with 19,000 children, and 543 primary schools with 212,292 children and 5,347 teachers. The teacher/pupil ratio has decreased from 40/1 in the 1970s to 33/1. About half the children of secondary school age attend school. There are also private schools. In 1998 there were 69,009 children in secondary and high school classes. Many secondary and high schools teach agricultural activities. The University of Swaziland, at Matsapha, had 2,533 students in 1996–97. There are three teacher training colleges (total enrolment in 1994–95, 857) and eight vocational institutions (1,150 students and 147 teachers in 1991). There is also an institute of management. Rural education centres offer formal education for children and adult education geared towards vocational training. The adult literacy rate in 2001 was 80·3% (81·3% among males and 79·4% among females). In 1999–2000 total expenditure on education came to 6·0% of GNP. Health. In 1998 there were 176 hospitals, clinics and health centres. There were 149 physicians in 1996. CULTURE Broadcasting. The Broadcasting Corporation and Swaziland Television Authority are government-owned. Swaziland Broadcasting Services run on a semi-commercial basis. In 1997 there were 155,000 radio receivers and in 2001 there were 32,000 television receivers (colour by PAL). Press. In 2003 there were three daily newspapers: The Swazi Observer (English- language with a circulation of 3,000 in 1999), The Times of Swaziland (English, 15,000), founded in 1897, and Tikhatsi (siSwati, 7,500). Tourism. There were 281,000 foreign tourists in 2000, bringing revenue of US$34m. Libraries. There is a government-subsidized National Library Service, which comprises two libraries at Mbabane and Manzini with 11 branches throughout the country. DIPLOMATIC REPRESENTATIVES Of Swaziland in the United Kingdom (20 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6LB) High Commissioner: Vacant. Acting High Commissioner: Clement Mabuza. Of the United Kingdom in Swaziland (2nd Floor, Lilunga House, Gifillan Street, Mbabane) High Commissioner: David Reader. Of Swaziland in the USA (1712 New Hampshire Ave., NW, Washington, D.C., 20009) Ambassador: Mary M. Kanya. Of the USA in Swaziland (PO Box 199, Mbabane) Ambassador: James David McGee. Of Swaziland to the United Nations Ambassador: Clifford Sibusiso Mamba. Of Swaziland to the European Union Ambassador: Thembayena Annastasia Dlamini. FURTHER READING Matsebula, J. S. M., A History of Swaziland. 3rd ed. London, 1992 Nyeko, B., Swaziland. [Bibliography] 2nd ed. ABC-Clio, Oxford and Santa Barbara (CA), 1994 National statistical office: Central Statistical Office, POB 456, Mbabane. Website: http://www.gov.sz/home.asp?pid=75

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