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 Swaziland| Facts & Figures |
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| Ruler: King Mswati III (1986) Prime Minister: Barnabas Sibusiso
Dlamini (1996) Land area: 6,641 sq mi (17,200 sq km);
total area: 6,704 sq mi (17,363 sq km) Population (2008 est.): 1,123,913
(growth rate: –0.4%); birth rate: 26.2/1000; infant mortality rate:
68.6/1000; life expectancy: 32; density per sq mi: 171
Capital (2003 est.):
Mbabane, 69,000; Royal and legislative
capital: Lobamba, circa 5,000 Largest city: Manzini, 75,000 Monetary unit: Lilangeni More Facts & Figures |
GeographySwaziland, which is about 85% the size of New Jersey, is surrounded by
South Africa and Mozambique. The country is largely mountainous.
GovernmentAbsolute monarchy.
HistoryBantu peoples migrated southwest to the area of Mozambique in the 16th
century. A number of clans broke away from the main body in the 18th
century and settled in Swaziland. In the 19th century these clans
organized as a tribe, partly because they were in constant conflict with
the Zulu. Their ruler, Mswazi, appealed to the British in the 1840s for
help against the Zulu. The British and the Transvaal governments
guaranteed the independence of Swaziland in 1881.
South Africa held Swaziland as a protectorate from 1894 to 1899, but
after the Boer War, in 1902, Swaziland was transferred to British
administration. The paramount chief was recognized as the native authority
in 1941. In 1963, the territory was constituted a protectorate, and on
Sept. 6, 1968, it became the independent nation of Swaziland.
Since 1986, King Mswati III has ruled as sub-Saharan Africa's last
absolute monarch. Political parties are banned and the king appoints 10 of
the 65 members of parliament as well as the prime minister. King Mswati
can veto any law passed by the legislature and frequently rules by
decree.
In 2002, hundreds of thousands of Swazis faced starvation. Two years of
drought as well as bad planning and poor agricultural practices were
blamed for the crisis. The government came under criticism for buying the
king a $50-million luxury jet—a quarter of the national budget—while
famine loomed. In 2002, the country's judges resigned en masse in protest
of the government's refusal to comply with court decisions. In April 2003,
the government information minister announced that the media were banned
from making negative remarks about the government—criticism of the king's
new luxury jet in particular would not be tolerated. In 2004, a third year
of drought befell the country. International donor agencies and human
rights groups condemned the king's plans to build new multimillion-dollar
palaces for each of his 11 wives (12 by 2005) while his people faced
starvation and the country's AIDS epidemic spiraled out of control. About
30% of the population is infected.
Although the king signed the country's first constitution in Aug. 2005,
the document essentially maintains the status quo: opposition parties
remain banned and the king retains ultimate power.
See also
Encyclopedia:
Swaziland
.
U.S. State Dept. Country Notes:
Swaziland
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