Swaziland: economy, political system, population, science and culture. Full description of Swaziland Where is the country of Swaziland

Date of writing: 13.10.2023

Reading time: 15 minutes

Kingdom Swaziland- the smallest state on the continent, located in southeast Africa. In the east it borders with Mozambique, in the southeast, south, west and north - with the Republic of South Africa. Administrative division. The state is divided into 4 districts

The name comes from the ethnonym of the people - Swazi.

Capital

Mbabane (administrative), Lobam-ba (royal residence).

Square

Population

1100 thousand people

Form of government

A constitutional monarchy.

Head of State

Supreme legislative body

The bicameral parliament (Libondla) consists of the Senate and the House of Assembly.

Supreme executive body

A government accountable to the king.

Big cities

Official language

Swazi, English.

Religion

60% are Catholics, 30% are pagans.

Ethnic composition

90% are Swazis, 2.3% are Zulus, 2.1% are Europeans.

Currency

Lilangeni (plural - emalangeni) 100 cents.

Climate

The climate is transitional from subtropical to tropical, humid in the summer. Average monthly temperatures range from + 12°C to + 20°C in summer. Precipitation falls 500-700 mm per year in the east and 1200-1400 mm in the west.

Flora

In the west, the vegetation is a typical savanna with acacia and baobab trees; in the east, thickets of xerophytic shrubs predominate. West High Veldo is a country of mountain meadows. The flora includes 2.4 thousand species - from lichens to ficus and magnolias.

Fauna

Representatives of the animal world are typical of the African savannah - blue buffalos, antelopes, zebras, hippos, and a large number of crocodiles live in the rivers.

Rivers and lakes

The country's largest rivers are the Komati, Great Usutu and Umbeluzi.

Attractions

In Lobamba - the National Museum of Swaziland, the Parliament building, the Queen Mother's village. The Malotolsa National Park and Waterfall are well known.

Useful information for tourists

Swaziland is a unique country where modern, vibrant life is organically intertwined with ancient traditions and rituals that form the basis of the existence of its people - the Swazis. The best way to explore Swaziland is trekking, as well as walking and horseback riding excursions. Some national parks offer excellent trails, often just reclaimed trails that local people have used for centuries. Horseback riding excursions are considered the most suitable for local conditions and have already managed to create the country’s reputation as one of the world centers of equestrian tourism. In many cases, it is also the only way to explore parts of the country otherwise inaccessible by land and experience the region's wildlife.
One of the most colorful events takes place annually at the end of August - beginning of September and is timed to coincide with the moment the king chooses his next bride. It is called "Dance of the Reeds". Virgin girls from all over the kingdom gather near the Queen Mother's palace with a bunch of reeds, symbolizing their purity and devotion to the throne. The girls' outfit consists only of loincloths woven with beads. Royal princesses decorate their hair with a wreath of red feathers and lead in dances.
The purpose of the ceremony is to show the king your beauty and dancing skills, so that he can choose one from many virgins and make him his wife. And although the choice of the king is a foregone conclusion, thousands of almost naked beauties try their best to demonstrate their charms by performing intricate steps.

The Kingdom of Swaziland has two capitals.

The administrative capital of the kingdom is the city of Mbabane and the legislative capital is the city of Lo-bamba, where the royal residence is also located.

The king of the state, Mswati III, reigns from 1986 to the present.

Prime Minister since 1996 Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini.

Swaziland on the world map

Information and history of Swaziland

The Kingdom of Swaziland has an area of 17,400 sq. km, population is about 832,000 people.

The urban population is 28%, the literacy rate is 55%.

The monetary unit of the Kingdom of Swaziland is the lilangeni.

Most of the population, about 74%, is employed in agriculture. The ethnic composition of the population is about 90% purebred Africans, mainly Swazi, Zulu, Tonga, Shangaap tribes.

The official languages in the country are English and Swazi. The religious views of the population are distributed as follows: Christians (36%), Catholics (11%), members of independent African churches (28%) and 20% adhere to traditional beliefs.

The Kingdom of Swaziland came into existence in 1968. The type of government in the country is absolute monarchy.

The country is divided into four districts, governed by regional councils made up of representatives of the 40 tribes into which the nation is divided.

Capital Mbabane

Swaziland, a traditional kingdom of the Swazi people, was jointly ruled by the United Kingdom and the Boer-founded Transvaal Republic. This lasted from 1890 until the end of the South African War, which lasted from 1899 to 1902.

In 1904 the country was forcibly turned into a British protectorate, and in 1907 it became the territory of the High Commissioner's office.

The 1910 Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom establishing the Union of South Africa provided for the possible inclusion of Swaziland, along with other High Commissioner territories, into the union, but the British government stated that this would not happen without the consent of the citizens. Knowing this point, the South African government repeatedly asked Swaziland to come under its jurisdiction, but this was opposed by the British government and the Swazi people themselves. Requests of this kind ceased in 1967, when Swaziland gained the right of internal self-government and subsequently achieved the status of a fully independent state within the Commonwealth, which happened in 1968.

The 1963 Constitution, introduced by the British government before Swaziland gained full independence, provided for a parliamentary system of government with King Sobhuza II as head of government. In 1973, having secured the consent of the assembly, the king abolished the constitution and received unlimited power.

In 1978, a new constitution was adopted, providing for a bicameral Assembly, whose deputies were partly appointed by the king and partly elected by an electoral college representing 40 tribes.

King Sobhuza died in 1982 and, according to Swazi tradition, the position of head of state passed to Queen Mother Dzeliwe, who was to hold this post until Crown Prince Mahosetiw turned 21 in 1989. However, in August 1983, Queen Dzeliwe was dethroned by King Sobhuza's other ex-wife, Ntombi, who was officially given the duties of royal regent in October.

A power struggle began among members of the royal family, and in November 1984 it was announced that the Crown Prince would ascend to the throne in April 1986, three years before reaching the required age. In April 1986, he was officially declared King Msuati III (b. 1968).

During 1991, a royal commission traveled around the country, studying public opinion on changes to the constitution.

Direct elections to the Assembly were held in 1993, and in 1994 the king announced the need to create a commission representing government and external interests to draft a new constitution.

Local residents of the country transport brushwood

A member of the South African Customs Union, Swaziland has close economic relations with South Africa, and the South African rand is freely circulated in the country along with the national currency.

In May 1996, the king unexpectedly removed Prince Jameson Mbilini Dlamini from his post and appointed Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini as prime minister in his place. The ban on the organization and activities of political parties was not lifted, despite strikes and mass pro-democracy demonstrations that took place throughout 1996 and 1997.

Dlamini was reappointed prime minister, but following the results of the elections to the Legislative Assembly in October 1998, the king then dissolved the 21-member advisory National Council of Swaziland.

On April 20, 2018, King Mswati III of Swaziland renamed the Kingdom of Swaziland to the Kingdom of Eswatini, returning the state to its historical name that it had before colonization by Great Britain. The new name means "Land of the Swazis".

How to get to Swaziland from Russia

There are no direct flights from Russia to Swaziland. To get to the country from Russia, you need to fly to Johannesburg, (South Africa), then fly to Manzini Airport on local airlines. The second option can be reached by car from South Africa or Mozambique.

A visa to Swaziland is required for citizens of the Russian Federation; you can obtain it upon arrival in the country, directly on the spot.

Cost about 35 dollars.

Advice: If you pay for a visa when entering the country from South Africa in South African rands, or when entering from Mozambique in meticals, the cost of the visa will be significantly cheaper than when paying in US dollars.

What to visit in Swaziland

Due to the small size of the country, we do not recommend deliberately flying to Swaziland, but recommend visiting it when visiting South Africa or Mozambique.

There are not many attractions in the country, and in general, 3-4 days are enough to visit this small country.

Main attractions:

It is the second largest granite monolith in.

It is smaller in size than Mount Uluru in Australia. It is located near the city of Mbabane, about 10 kilometers.

Climbing the mountain takes on average about 4 hours.

Mbuluzi Game Reserve

Mbuluzi Nature Reserve is located in the north-east of the kingdom, about an hour's drive from the city of Manzini.

The reserve is home to a huge number of representatives of African fauna, including the African five. On its territory you can stay at a campsite and a mini hotel for a couple of days, and there you can also book a tour of the reserve.

Ethno-villages Shevula and Mantenga.

In the ethno villages, the life of the local population of the kingdom is presented; you can walk around the village, look into the residents’ homes, and watch performances of national traditional songs and dances.

Royal Hlane National Park

The largest reserve in the kingdom, you can see the Big Five of Africa. You can stay at a local campsite and take a tour of the reserve there. We recommend the cottage community Ndlovu Camp.

Mkhaya Nature Reserve

One of the largest reserves in Swaziland, located in the southeast of the country.

You can stay in the Stone Camp hotel complex

Features of holidays in Swaziland

Malaria and yellow fever are possible, so it is recommended to get a yellow fever vaccine when entering the country and use mosquito nets when sleeping.

The country has a fairly big problem with medicine, a very small number of medical centers and clinics, so even food poisoning can become a fairly serious problem. You should eat in normal establishments or at hotels, drink only bottled water.

In the Kingdom of Swaziland it is prohibited to drink alcoholic beverages on public transport and you may end up in the local prison.

Do not walk around the country at night, due to the low standard of living of the local population, you can become a victim of robbery or violence.

Basic moments

The surface is the Veld plateau (height up to 1445 m), descending in ledges from west to east. The climate is transitional from subtropical to tropical, arid. Average monthly temperatures in summer are 20-24 °C, in winter 12-15 °C, precipitation is from 500 to 1400 mm per year. Savannah. In con. 1830s A large association of Swazi tribes arose on the territory of Swaziland. In 1903-1968. Swaziland was a British protectorate. Independent state since 1968.

Economically underdeveloped agricultural country. Main crops: corn, sugar cane, citrus fruits, pineapples, cotton. Transhumance-grazing livestock farming. Mining of asbestos, coal, iron ore. In place of cleared indigenous forests, artificial forest plantations have been created. Logging. Sugar, wood processing, fruit canning factories. Main foreign trade partners: South Africa, Canada, USA, Great Britain. The monetary unit is lilangeni.

Nature

The surface of Swaziland is highlands, sloping east towards the coastal plain of Mozambique in three stages: High Veldt (1000–1500 m above sea level), Middle Weld (400–800 m) and Low Weld (150–300 m). The High Veld, located in the west, is characterized by rugged terrain, with individual peaks exceeding 1800 m, the highest point being Mount Emlembe (1862 m). The Middle Weald has a level surface and is favorable for farming. The Low Veld is famous for its rich pastures and forests, bounded in the east by the Lebombo Mountains.

Swaziland has significant mineral reserves - diamonds, asbestos, gold, iron, coal, kaolin, tin, pyrophyllite, semi-precious stones (beryl, quartz, etc.) and talc.

Dense river network, the largest rivers are Komati, Ngwavuma, Umbeluzi, Usutu. The main rivers of Swaziland cut through these mountains and flow into the Indian Ocean.

The High Veldt region is characterized by a subtropical climate with average temperatures ranging from 16° to 22° C and an average annual rainfall of 1200–1400 mm or more. The Middle Weld and Lebombo Mountains are in the transitional climate zone, while the Low Veld is in the tropical climate zone with average temperatures of 20–24° C and average annual precipitation of 500–700 mm.

Flora – meadow in the High Veldt region and forest savannah in the eastern part of the country (various acacias, including Australian, American pines, baobabs, gum trees, xerophytic shrubs, eucalyptus, etc.)

Fauna – there are different types of antelopes (including antelopes), hippopotamuses, white rhinoceroses, zebras, crocodiles. The tsetse fly is widespread throughout the area.

Culture

The origins of fine art in Swaziland began long before our era. e. In the caves and grottoes of the Drakensberg Mountains, Bushmen rock paintings have been preserved - images of people, animals or fantastic creatures, made with mineral and earthen paints, as well as lime and soot diluted with water and animal fat.

Among the crafts and arts, pottery, blacksmithing, metal processing (bronze and copper), weaving baskets and mats from grass and straw, leather goods production, as well as wood and horn carving are common. Products of folk craftsmen are presented in the exhibition of the National Museum of Swaziland in Lobamba (founded in 1972).

Music. Playing musical instruments, singing and dancing are closely associated with the daily life of the Swazi people. Traditional rituals are accompanied by singing and dancing (women’s dance with knives, “reeds” - the dance of girls during the initiation rite, etc.).

The first schools were opened at Christian missions in the beginning. 19th century

The education system is underdeveloped and education is not compulsory. Children attend primary schools (the duration of education is 7 years) from the age of 6. Secondary education (5 years) begins at the age of 13 and takes place in two stages - three and two years. Primary education covers 98% of children of the corresponding age (2002). The higher education system includes the University of Swaziland (located in the suburb of Manzini Kwaluseni, opened in 1964 as part of the University of Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland, received the status of an independent university in 1976), agricultural and pedagogical institutes. In 2002, 18.4% of state funds were allocated from the budget for the needs of the education system. In 2003, 81.6% of the population was literate (82.6% of men and 80.8% of women).

Swaziland is one of the African countries with the highest incidence of AIDS - 38.8% (2003). In 2003, there were 220 thousand people with AIDS and HIV-infected people, 17 thousand people died. AIDS has been officially declared a national disaster. In order to limit the spread of the disease, in 2001 King Mswati III issued a decree prohibiting underage girls from having sex.

The lack of clean drinking water (about 40% of the population has constant access to it) leads to outbreaks of intestinal infectious diseases. In 2000, health care expenditures amounted to 4.2% of GDP.

In the UN report on the humanitarian development of the planet in 2001, Swaziland was ranked 133rd.

60% of the population are Christians (mostly Protestants), about 40% adhere to traditional African beliefs (animalism, fetishism, cult of ancestors, forces of nature, etc.), there is a small Muslim community. There are also a small number of Baha'i adherents. The spread of Christianity began at the beginning of the 19th century.

Policy

The constitution of 2005 is in force. The head of state is the king, who has supreme legislative and executive power. The heir to the throne in Swaziland is a prince chosen by members of the royal family. In the event of the death of the king or the minority of the heir to the throne, the country is ruled by the Queen Mother.

Legislative power is partially exercised by a bicameral parliament, which consists of the House of Assembly (65 deputies) and the Senate (30 deputies). Parliament performs the functions of an advisory body under the king, since it does not adopt, but only discusses bills introduced by the government. In addition, the king has the right to veto decisions of parliament. 10 members of the House of Assembly are appointed by the king, and 55 are elected by the population based on a complex two-tier system. Candidates for voting are nominated by traditional local councils, which are composed of chiefs. 20 members of the Senate are appointed by the king, and 10 are elected by the House of Assembly. The term of office of both houses of parliament is 5 years.

In practice, state decisions are made by the king after they are discussed in the Libandla (National Council, whose members are representatives of the court nobility, the king and the queen mother) and Likoko (a narrow circle of the most trusted members of the royal family).

Executive power is exercised by the government and the prime minister, who is appointed by the king from among the deputies of the House of Assembly.

The national flag is a rectangular panel consisting of three horizontal stripes: two blue (top and bottom) and one red between them. The red stripe is bordered on both sides by narrow yellow stripes. Superimposed in the center of the red stripe is the image of a large black and white shield, which covers two parallel spears and a staff decorated with tassels.

The basis of foreign policy is the policy of non-alignment. The main foreign policy partners are the Republic of South Africa and Mozambique. Relations with Mozambique are complicated due to the influx of Mozambican refugees.

The issue of establishing bilateral diplomatic relations between the USSR and Swaziland was first discussed in con. 1970s during an unofficial visit to the country by an employee of the Soviet Union embassy in Mozambique. King Sobhuza II, under pressure from the then South African government, refused the proposed contacts. Diplomatic relations between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Swaziland were established on November 19, 1999.

SWAZILAND

(Kingdom of Swaziland)

General information

Geographical position. Swaziland is a country in southeast Africa. In the east it borders with Mozambique, in the southeast, south, west and north with South Africa.

Square. The territory of Swaziland occupies 17,363 square meters. km.

Main cities, administrative divisions. The capital of Swaziland is Mbabane (administrative), Lobamba (royal residence). The largest cities: Manzini (53 thousand people), Mbabane (47 thousand people).

Political system

Swaziland is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the king. The head of government is the prime minister. The legislative body is a bicameral parliament (Senate and House of Assembly).

Nature

Relief. In the west of the country there is a mountain range rising to 1,220 m, in the center there is a plateau with an average height of about 610 m, and the east of the country is occupied by low-lying veld.

Geological structure and minerals. The country's subsoil contains reserves of asbestos, gold, and diamonds.

Climate. The country's climate is transitional from subtropical to tropical, humid in summer. Average monthly temperatures range from +12°C to +20°C. Precipitation ranges from 500 - 700 mm in the east of the country to 1,200-1,400 mm or more in the west.

Inland waters. The main rivers of the country are the Komati, Great Usutu and Umbeluzi.

Soils and vegetation. The vegetation in the west is a typical savannah with acacia and baobab, while in the east thickets of xerophytic shrubs predominate.

Animal world. The fauna is typical of African savannahs: blue buffaloes, antelopes, zebras, hippopotamuses, and crocodiles in rivers.

Population and language

The population of Swaziland is about 966 thousand people, the average population density is about 56 people per 1 sq. km. Ethnic groups: Swazis - 90%, Zulus - 2.3%), Europeans - 2.1%. Languages: Swazi, English (both official).

Religion

Believers are mostly Christian; a third of the population adhere to local traditional beliefs.

Brief historical sketch

The Royal House of Swaziland has been known for over 400 years and is one of the oldest in Africa. At the end of the 19th century. After the Boer War, Swaziland came under the control of the Union of South Africa. In 1907, Swaziland was placed under the jurisdiction of the British High Commissioner for South Africa. In 1967, the country received the right to self-government, and on September 6, 1968 - full independence. In 1973, the constitution was abolished and political activity was prohibited. For four years after the death of King Sobuz II, the country was without a ruler - it was decided which of the monarch's 67 sons should take the throne. This problem was resolved in 1986.

Brief Economic Sketch

Economically underdeveloped agricultural country. Main crops: corn, sugar cane, citrus fruits, pineapples, cotton. Transhumance-grazing livestock farming. Mining of asbestos, coal, iron ore. In place of cleared indigenous forests, artificial forest plantations have been created. Logging. Sugar, wood processing, fruit canning factories. Export: sugar, canned fruit, meat, timber, asbestos.

The currency is the lilangeni, and the South African rand is also in free circulation.

Brief sketch of culture

Art and architecture. Lobamba. National Museum of Swaziland; Houses of Parliament; Queen Mother's village.

Swaziland is an amazing country. I would never have thought that this was Africa. There are different people here, different nature, different architecture. It is located between South Africa and Mozambique. It is slightly larger in size than the Kaliningrad region. Swaziland is famous for the fact that one in four residents of this small country is infected with the immunodeficiency virus HIV (26.1% according to UN estimates in 2007), which is the highest level among countries in the world. There is also a wonderful tradition here. Every year the king chooses a new wife for himself. This takes place at the Reed Dance (Umhlanga), an annual mass celebration that culminates in the dance of several thousand half-naked Swazi virgins. King Mswati III, Africa's last absolute monarch, already has 13 wives.

01. A visa is issued in 3 minutes at the border. Everything goes quickly and without delays. Swaziland has excellent roads. Riding around this small mountainous country is a pleasure.

02. Monkeys are running in the reed thickets.

03. The king is very young, he is depicted on all banknotes of the kingdom. By the way, he has 67 brothers. This is such a big and friendly family. In April 2011, opposition rallies of many thousands took place across the country demanding the resignation of Mswati III. The opposition accuses the monarch of plundering the state treasury to provide a luxurious life for himself and his 13 wives. On April 12, police, using special means, dispersed a rally in the capital of Swaziland, arresting 13 organizers of the rally. Almost like ours ;)

04. Autumn in Swaziland....

05. Most Swazis are syncretists 40% (beliefs based on a combination of Christianity with aboriginal cults), 20% are Catholics. People wear uniforms to church.

06. Public transport is bad here. Some people walk 10-20 kilometers to work every day.

07. Children, as everywhere else, are very friendly and curious.

08. Look how charming their cart is.

#09.

10. But adults don’t like to be photographed. This cute street barber decided to throw a bottle at a photographer. Well, what kind of morals?

11. Capital Mbabane.

12. The city is clean, small and absolutely stupid.

13. The roads are good.

14. In the evening everyone is frying corn.

15. View of the capital.

16. Panorama.

Click on the photo to view in large size.

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18. Some kind of huge granite rock. It is said to be the second largest solid piece of granite in the world. The first one is in Australia.

19. There really is a lot of granite here. You can make a huge statue of the king;)

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22. It’s very beautiful in the mountains.

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32. Mswati III is included in the list of the 15 richest monarchs in the world according to Forbes magazine. His fortune is estimated at more than $100 million. Each of his 13 wives lives in a separate palace.