Swaziland

This Page was last updated on the 26th. October, 2005.

Country	Swaziland
Official Name	Kingdom of Swaziland
Former Name	Swaziland (traditionally Swazi nation migrated south to present day Mozambique before 16th century; then Swazis settled in northern Zululand in about 1750; when Zulu nation grew Swazis moved northward [to present Swaziland] in 1800s; consolidated their hold under able leaders; most important was Mswati II from whom the Swazis get their name; under Mswati II Swazis expanded to Northwest and stabilized southern frontier with Zulus in 1840s; Mswati asked British, in South Africa, for help against Zulu raids; after Mswati's death, the Swazis reached agreements with British and South African authorities over a various issues; South Africa administered the Swazi between 1894-1902; British took control in 1902; Sobhuza II became head of Swazi nation in 1921; Swaziland established first legislative body [an advisory council of elected European representatives to advise British High Commissioner] in 1921; the High Commissioner conceded that council had no official status and recognized king, as the native authority to issue legally enforceable orders to Swazis in 1944; UK began to prepare Swaziland for independence after World War II; political activity grew in early 1960s; traditional Swazi leaders formed Imbokodvo National Movement (INM); the colonial government scheduled an election for the first legislative council in which INM won all 24 elective seats in mid-1964; UK agreed to discuss a new constitution in 1966; constitutional committee agreed on a constitutional monarchy with self-government to follow parliamentary elections in 1967; Swaziland became independent on 6 September 1968.)
Capital	Mbabane
Main Towns	Manzini (principal commercial city, pop. 65,000), Mbabane (pop. 60,000)
Subdivisions	4 regions: Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni. 9 municipal governments, and 55 tinkhundla centers (traditional administrative units).
Independence	6 September 1968 (from UK)
Constitution	No constitution in effect. In 2001 King Mswati III appointed a committee to draft a new constitution. The draft was released for comment in May 2003. Was due to be adopted in November 2003 but was delayed and scheduled for early 2005. As of November 4, 2004, it was before the Parliament.
National Holiday	Independence Day, 6 September (1968)
UN Membership	24 September 1968
OAU Membership	24 September 1968 – now African Union (AU)
Commonwealth	6 September 1968
Other Organisations	In alphabetical order according to abbreviation/acronym: Africa-Caribbean-Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU), African Development Bank (AfDB or AFDB), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Group of 77 at the United Nations (G-77), International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (ICRM), International Development Association (IDA), International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), International Finance Corporation (IFC), International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Monetary Fund (IMF), International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO - correspondent), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Non Aligned Movement (NAM), Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), Southern African Customs Union (SACU), Southern African Development Community (SADC), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Universal Postal Union (UPU), World Customs Organization (WCO, former Customs Cooperation Council [CCC]), World Health Organisation (WHO), World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), World Tourism Organisation (WToO), World Trade Organisation (WTrO).
Population	World Bank Figures: 1,019,540 (1999), 1,045,000 (2000), 1,067,944 (2001), 1,088,176 (2002), 1,105,525 (2003) Other Sources: 966,977 (July 1995), 1,104,343 (July 2001 est.), 1,161,219 (July 2003 est.) 1,173,900 (July 2005 est.)
Area	6,704 sq. mls. (17,364 sq. kms.)
Density	46 per sq.km. (1995)
Highest Point	Emembe 6,109 ft. (1,862 m.)
Lowest Point	Great Usutu River 70 ft. (21 m.)
Neighbours	Mozambique (NE), South Africa (surrounds from NW to SW)
Life Expectancy	58 years (1995), total population: 38.62 years, male: 37.86 years, female: 39.4 years (2001 est.) total population: 39.47 years, male: 41.02 years, female: 37.87 years (2003 est.) total population: 35.65 years male: 37.18 years female: 34.07 years (2005 est.)
Infant Mortality Rate	total: 67.44 deaths/1,000 live births, female: 63.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.), male: 70.79 deaths/1,000 live births total: 69.27 deaths/1,000 live births male: 72.51 deaths/1,000 live births female: 65.94 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS	adult prevalence rate: 33.4% (2001 est.) 38.8% (2003 est.) people living with HIV/AIDS: 170,000 (2001 est.) 220,000 (2003 est.) deaths: 12,000 (2001 est.) 17,000 (2003 est.) More than one-third of the adult population was infected by HIV/AIDS in 2002. IRIN Plus News - HIV/AIDS Treatment Map: Swaziland - Updated: Sept 2004 Population: 1.1 million HIV Prevalence Rate (%) 2003 End: 38.8 No. Of People living with HIV/AIDS: 230,000 No. Of People in need of ART: 26,000 No. Of People Currently On ART (Sep 04): 4,000 No. Of People on ART Public Sector: 3,000 No. Of People on ART in Non Govt Programmes: 1000 (119 BMS) No. Of People Exptd to be on ART (2005 End): 13,000 Front Line Drug Regimen: Nevirapine+Lamivudine+Stavudine and Zidovudine+Lamivudine+Nevirapine HIV/AIDS Treatment Sites: 5 Global Fund 2 Year Approved Funding (Round 2: approved 04-Dec-03): US$29,633,300.00 Total Funds Disbursed By The Global Fund: US$5,726,250.00 Total Funds Disbursed By The World Bank Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Programme (MAP): Nil Total Funds Disbursed By PEPFAR: Nil Source: Ministry of Health, WHO, USAIDS, BMS (Bristol-Myers Squibb)
Adult Literacy Rate	68% (1985), total population: 76.7%, male: 78%, female: 75.6% (1995 est.) total population: 81.6%, male: 82.6%, female: 80.8% (2003 est.)
Ethnic Groups	Swazi 90%, Zulu, Tonga, Shangaan, European 3%
Languages	English (official, government business conducted in English), siSwati (official)
Religions	Zionist (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship) 40%, Roman Catholic 20%, Muslim 10%, Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish and other 30%
Type of Government	Monarchy, independent member of Commonwealth
President	King Mswati III (since 25 April 1986 [26/10/2005])
Prime Minister	Absolom Themba Dlamini (since 14 November 2003 [26/10/2005])
Political Parties	Political parties are banned by the Constitution of 13 October 1978. The following are considered political associations: Imbokodvo National Movement (INM); Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC); People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO); Swaziland National Front (SWANAFRO).
Ruling Party	None - Absolute Monarchy
Currency	Lilangeni - plural Emalangeni (E, SZL)(100 cents) emalangeni per US dollar - 6.4597 (2004), 7.5648 (2003), 10.5407 (2002), 8.6092 (2001), 6.9398 (2000)
GDP	GDP: US$2.08 billion (2003) GDP: US$2.8 billion (2004) purchasing power parity - US$6.018 billion (2004 est.) per capita purchasing power parity - US$4,400 (2002 est.) per capita purchasing power parity - US$5,100 (2004 est.)
GNP	US$1,190 (1992) US$1,400 (1994)
Per Capita Income	Per capita income: US$1,891 (2003)
Population Below Poverty Line	40% (1995)
Land Use	arable land: 10.35% permanent crops: 0.7% other: 88.95% (2001) Irrigated land: 690 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural Resources	asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc
Oil and Natural Gas	production: 0 bbl/day (2001 est.) consumption: 3,500 bbl/day (2001 est.) exports: NA (2001) imports: NA (2001)
Military	Military branches: Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (Army), Royal Swaziland Police Force Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 284,530 (2003 est.) males age 18-49: 248,676 (2005 est.) Military expenditures - dollar figure: US$20 million, 4.75% of GDP (FY01) US$40.5 million, 1.4% of GDP (2004)
Economic Aid Received	US$104 million (2001) Aid per Capita (World Bank): US$28 (1999), US$13 (2000), US$27 (2001), US$21 (2002), US$24 (2003)
Debt	Less indebted World Bank Figures: US$217,900,000 (2000), US$297,100,000 (2001), US$332,100,000 (2002), US$393,000,000 (2003) Other Sources: US$175m (1995) US$281m (2000 est.) US$320 million (2002 est.)
Major Imports	chemicals, clothing, foodstuffs, machinery, motor vehicles, petroleum products (2003)
Imports from	South Africa 88.8%, EU 5.6%, Japan 0.6%, Singapore 0.4% (1999) US$1,018.8 million (2003) South Africa 95.6%, EU 0.9%, Japan 0.9%, Singapore 0.3% (2004) $1.14 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Major Exports	soft drink concentrates, sugar, wood pulp, canned fruits, cotton yarn (2003)
Exports to	South Africa 72%, EU 14.2%, Mozambique 3.7%, US 3.5%, UK (1999) South Africa, EU, Mozambique, U.S (2003) US$920.2 million (2003) South Africa 59.7%, EU 8.8%, US 8.8%, Mozambique 6.2% (2004) US$900.1 million f.o.b. (2004 est.)

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The White Fathers, Sutton Coldfield, 26 October, 2005

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