Swaziland

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Swaziland

General Information
Geography
Government
Economy
Population
Health
Communications and media
Chronology


GENERAL INFORMATION

National name Umbuso wakaNgwane/Kingdom of Swaziland Area 17,400 sq km/6,718 sq mi Capital Mbabane (administrative), Lobamba (legislative) Language Swazi, English (both official) Religion about 60% Christian, animist Time difference GMT +2 Major holidays 1 January, 25 April, 22 July, 6 September, 24 October, 25–26 December; variable: Ascension Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Commonwealth (March)


GEOGRAPHY

Major towns/cities Manzini, Big Bend, Mhlume, Havelock Mine, Nhlangano Physical features central valley; mountains in west (Highveld); plateau in east (Lowveld and Lubombo plateau) Airports one international airport; total passengers carried: 89,000 (2003 est) Railways total length: 301 km/187 mi (freight) Roads total road network: 3,594 km/2,233 mi (2002 est); passenger cars: 83 per 1,000 people (2003 est)


GOVERNMENT

Head of state King Mswati III from 1986 Head of government Themba Dlamini from 1996 Political system absolutist Political executive absolute Administrative divisions four regions Political parties Imbokodvo National Movement (INM), nationalist monarchist; Swaziland United Front (SUF), left of centre; Swaziland Progressive Party (SPP), left of centre; People's United Democratic Movement, left of centre Death penalty retains the death penalty for ordinary crimes but can be considered abolitionist in practice Armed forces 110,000 (2006 est) Conscription military service is compulsory for two years Defence spend (% GDP) 4.7 (2002 est) Education spend (% GDP) 7.1 (2003 est) Health spend (% GDP) 3.3 (2004)


ECONOMY

Currency lilangeni GDP (US$) 2.7 billion (2005 est) Real GDP growth (% change on previous year) 1.2 (2006 est) GNI (US$) 2.3 billion (2005 est) GNI per capita (PPP) (US$) 5,190 (2005 est) Consumer price inflation 5% (2006 est) Unemployment 40% (2005 est) Labour force 22% agriculture, 21% industry, 47% services (2004 est) Foreign debt (US$) 430 million (2005 est) Major trading partners South Africa, USA, EU, Mozambique, Japan, Singapore Resources coal, asbestos, diamonds, gold, tin, kaolin, iron ore, talc, pyrophyllite, silica Industries food processing, paper, textiles, wood products, beverages, metal products Exports sugar, wood pulp, cotton yarn, canned fruits, asbestos, coal, diamonds, gold. Principal market: South Africa 59.7% (2004) Imports machinery and transport equipment, minerals, fuels and lubricants, manufactured items, food and live animals. Principal source: South Africa 95.6% (2004) Arable land 10.3% (2006 est) Agricultural products sugar cane, cotton, citrus fruits, pineapples, maize, sorghum, tobacco, tomatoes, rice; livestock rearing (cattle and goats); commercial forestry


POPULATION

Population 1,029,400 (2006 est) Population growth rate -0.4% (2005–10) Population density (per sq km) 59 (2006 est) Urban population (% of total) 24 (2005 est) Age distribution (% of total population) 0–14 41%, 15–59 54%, 60+ 5% (2005 est) Ethnic groups about 95% indigenous African, comprising the Swazi, Zulu, Tonga, and Shangaan peoples; there are European and Afro-European (Eurafrican) minorities numbering around 22,000 Life expectancy 31 (men); 29 (women) (2005–10) Child mortality rate (under 5, per 1,000 live births) 156 (2004) Education (compulsory years) 7 Literacy rate 82% (men); 80% (women) (2004 est)


HEALTH

Physicians (per 10,000 people) 1.8 (2004 est) HIV infection (% of population aged 15–49) 33.4 (2005 est) AIDS deaths 16,000 (2005 est) Access to drinking-water source (% of total population) 87 (urban); 42 (rural) (2002)


COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA

Landline telephones (per 100 people) 3.4 (2005 est) Mobile phone subscribers (per 100 people) 19.4 (2005 est) Radios (per 1,000 people) 162 (2001 est) TV sets (per 1,000 people) 36 (2004 est) Personal computer users (per 100 people) 3.3 (2005 est) Internet users (per 100 people) 3.3 (2005 est)


CHRONOLOGY

Late 16th century King Ngwane II crossed Lubombo mountains from the east and settled in southeast Swaziland; his successors established strong centralized Swazi kingdom, dominating the long-settled Nguni and Sothi peoples. mid-19th century Swazi nation ruled by warrior King Mswati who, at height of his power, controlled an area three times the size of present-day state. 1882 Gold discovered in the northwest, attracting European fortune hunters, who coerced Swazi rulers into granting land concessions. 1894 Came under joint rule of Britain and Boer republic of Transvaal. 1903 Following the South African War, Swaziland became a special British protectorate, or High Commission territory, against South Africa's wishes. 1922 King Sobhuza II succeeded to the Swazi throne. 1968 Independence achieved within the Commonwealth, as Kingdom of Swaziland, with King (or Ngwenyama) Sobhuza II as head of state. 1973 King suspended constitution, banned political activity, and assumed absolute powers after opposition deputies elected to parliament. 1977 King announced substitution of traditional tribal communities (tinkhundla) for parliamentary system, arguing it was more suited to Swazi values. 1982 King Sobhuza died; his place taken by one of his wives, Queen Dzeliwe, until his son, Prince Makhosetive, old enough to become king. 1983 Queen Dzeliwe ousted by younger wife, Queen Ntombi, as real power passed to prime minister, Prince Bhekimpi Dlamini. 1986 Crown prince formally invested as King Mswati III. 1990 Following demands for greater freedom, King Mswati called for creation of an indaba (popular parliament). 1992 King Mswati approved further democratic constitutional amendments. 1993 Direct elections of tinkhundla candidates held for first time. 1996 Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini appointed prime minister. 2000 Further agitation for democratic reform. 2002 King Mswati's purchase of expensive royal jet criticized by International Monetary Fund. 2004 United Nations AIDS envoy claimed Swaziland had world's highest rate of HIV infection. 2006 New constitution in force, including bill of rights but retaining ban on political parties.


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