Area of ​​Swaziland. Swaziland: economy, political system, population, science and culture. National Museum of Swaziland

Swaziland is located in the southeastern part of the African continent. In the south, southeast, west and north it borders with South Africa (border length 430 km), in the east with Mozambique (105 km). The total length of the border is 535 km.

The three-stage relief of the country corresponds to three main climatic zones. The moderately warm mountain climate gives way to lower subtropical and finally tropical in the Lower Veldt. More precipitation falls in summer in the temperate zone. The average temperature in July is +12°C, in February - +23°C. Precipitation ranges from 500-700 mm per year in the east to 1,200-1,400 mm in the west.

Story

Kingdoms can be different: explored, influential and known throughout the world, such as Great Britain, or lost in distant territories, but no less interesting, such as one of the smallest countries in the Southern Hemisphere, Swaziland. For many centuries, the Swazi people have lived here, descendants of the Bantu tribes, who, in turn, came here from East Africa through the territory of modern Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique. The king, unlike modern European monarchs, is a truly influential figure here. All the most important issues are resolved only with his participation. In this case, the king rules together with the queen, who must be his biological mother. This is even recorded in the state's coat of arms, which depicts a lion and an elephant: the lion represents the King, and the elephant is associated with the Queen Mother. Together, “Lion and Elephant” manage the resettlement of tribes in search of better territory, domestic and foreign policy, economic issues, and declare war on neighboring peoples.

The history of Swazis is rich in conflicts. The fighting was especially active during the 18th century, when the people were pushed from the coast of the Indian Ocean into the interior of the continent, and in the 19th century. 1820-1840, when the entire political and territorial structure of the southern African region underwent significant changes; The fight against the Zulu tribes brought famine and devastation to the Swazi lands.

History of the state since the 19th century. It is quite clearly divided into periods coinciding with the reign of a particular monarch. Thus, under King Sobhuza I (Somhlolo) in the period 1815-1836, a decisive victory was won over the Zulu, which allowed the Swazis to finally create their own state. The main strategy in communicating with the whites was also chosen: the king had a vision that was significant for the further development of the people, in which it was said in an allegorical form that one should not believe the promises of the Europeans. When choosing between “Book” and “Money,” you should have paid attention to “Book”: it is not without reason that education is being developed here with all their might (more than 80% of the residents are educated), and the University of Swaziland is decorated with an emblem with the inscription: “National Foundation of Education.” King Mswati XI, who reigned from 1839 to 1865, significantly expanded the country’s borders: suffice it to say that at that time the Swazi kingdom included the largest cities of what is now South Africa, such as Pretoria and Johannesburg. In the period before 1880, two more kings changed, but then, in one of the most difficult moments for the country from 1880 to 1889, Mbandzeni ascended the throne.

Since the middle of the 19th century. The Boers who appeared in the country - impoverished whites, descendants of colonists, engaged mainly in rural work (that is, “peasants” in the translation from the Dutch “boeren”), began to buy land from local leaders. At first, the Swazis did not notice the danger in this, but already during the reign of Mbandzeni, so many white settlers had accumulated that a clash of different cultural traditions was already clearly felt. The whole complexity of this situation was experienced by Ngwane V (Bhun), who ruled from 1890 to 1899. The Swazis began to lose their lands, and in 1894 the whole of Swaziland was declared part of the Boer state of the Transvaal, which, in turn, in 1900 became part of the British Empire . The administrative center at that time was the city of Manzini; today it remains the largest in the country and serves as an industrial center.

Sights of Swaziland

Mbabane is the capital of Swaziland, which lies at the northern end of the Ezulwini Valley among the lush Dlangeni Hills and does not have much to offer travelers. The main "tourist" places in the city are the fairly modern central streets: Alley, New Alley and Allister Miller (the main street named after the first European born here). To the west of the city center lies Swazi Square- a large, modern shopping complex that deserves attention for its reasonable prices and wide range of stores. Mbabane Market at the southern end of Allister Miller Street is worth a visit for its stalls of local artisans and prices that are lower than anywhere else in South Africa. Several excellent restaurants serving Portuguese, Italian and Indian cuisine are also concentrated in the city center area.

Lobamba- the heart of the "royal valley of Swaziland" Ezulwini, the location of the royal palace of Embo Royal and the seat of the country's legislative bodies. Here you can see all aspects of the life of the royal family - from the Incwala ceremony dances, in which the monarch himself takes part, and the Umhlanga dances, which are held in the Royal Kraal, to the ceremonial exits of the court and colorful national ceremonies. Located nearby National Museum, offering exhibitions of the cultures of the peoples of the country and the Cultural Village - a traditional “beehive village” for the region with all the attributes of the life of local residents, specially preserved near the museum. Given the size of the royal family (King Sobhuza II had 600 children), the country's monarchs now live in the state residence of Lotiza, 10 km from Lobamba. Next to the museum is the Parliament building, which is sometimes open to tourists, and across the road from the museum is the Memorial dedicated to King Sobhuza II. Near the capital there is a small but very picturesque Mantenga waterfall.

Mlawula Nature Reserve- this is eighteen thousand hectares of completely untouched and rarely visited by people forest, although it is a very beautiful, very rugged terrain. It is rather a small natural country in the foothills of the Lebombo Mountains. Rare varieties of succulent plants, alpine poppy, and ironwood grow here; Hyenas, leopards, hippos, samangos, crocodiles, a variety of antelopes, zebras and more than 350 species of birds are found in abundance. Since Stone Age artifacts were discovered here, there are many sections and archaeological tourist trails.

Swazi cuisine

Traditional Swazi cuisine uses local vegetables and fruits, exotic game, seafood and ocean fish.

Beef is the basis of many local dishes. Residents of Swaziland prefer dishes such as: T-bone steak - a large T-bone steak made from marbled beef; baba ganoush - a delicious roasted eggplant puree seasoned with seasonings; ribeye steak - steak prepared from the rib portion; couscous with lamb and mixed vegetables; pomegranate sorbet.

Chefs often use fish and seafood as a basis for preparing local dishes.

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.

17.

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;)

20.

21.

22. It’s very beautiful in the mountains.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

30.

31.

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.

33. At the same time, Swaziland is one of the poorest countries in the world, with 60% of the country's population living on less than $2 a day.

34.

35. Aluminum cookware). I think my laptop is here somewhere now.

36.

Tomorrow we'll see how the locals live.

By the way, what is the best way to post reports, by topic or as “travel notes” by day?

I also publish some posts on

Leafing through my passport after returning from Africa, I was surprised to notice that I had the most stamps from the small kingdom of Swaziland, after South Africa. Planning to just transit through Swaziland in a few hours, we ended up staying there for a few days. A sweet little kingdom, with wonderful people, beautiful nature and surprisingly good roads. We stopped in the town of Siteki, which is near the Mozambique border. And we lived there right on a farm, a real agricultural farm, with history. Next I’ll tell you about the farm and about Swaziland as such -

After spending several days in Swaziland, and twice leaving and entering it towards South Africa and Mozambique, my passport, issued only a year and a half ago, lost its last free page. I tried to enter Swaziland using a Russian passport in order to transfer the burden of stamps to it (in the Russian half of the passport is free, and in the Israeli the last page), but the Swazilanders began to look for an exit stamp from South Africa, and it was in the Israeli one. Alas, my little trick didn't work -

Border post between South Africa and Swaziland Golela/Lavumisa -

Our passports (Russian, Israeli and Moldovan) caused surprise at the border. Especially Moldovan, the border guards of none of the neighboring countries have even heard of such a country as Republica Moldova. The Swazis were so interested in what kind of mysterious country this was that they brought us a school map of the world and asked us to show where this very Moldova is. We showed it and they marked it with a cross. The fact is that Swaziland border guards, for fun, mark with crosses those states whose citizens crossed their border post. Looking at the map, we noticed that Moldova became the first CIS country whose citizens entered Swaziland through this crossing, because even Russian tourists had never visited here before! They looked at the Russian passport with interest, but they knew about the existence of Russia, so they marked it on the map themselves. As for the Israelis, they have already been here and my passport did not raise any surprise. Then we went further along the route -

The asphalt road promised by the Lonely Planet guidebook soon ended, although, according to the GPS, we continued to drive on the asphalt. Poof, I swore to mention the name of this vile device in a fuss, but I mentioned it again. If you remember, a couple of months ago I told you how at first they themselves offered to give me their navigator for advertising reasons, then they “fed me breakfast” for almost a month, they never gave me a navigator, but when I had a couple of days left before my flight, it turned out that they have outplayed everything and will not give me anything. And in the end, I rushed to buy some kind of GPS, made a mistake, bought a fake, etc., etc. So, I don’t know what the problem is more: in the navigator, or in the broken map from iGO, but summing up the results of a month-long trip to southern Africa, I must say that in about 30% of cases the navigator was glitchy and if not for paper maps - We wouldn't have gone far. I will devote a separate post to this, but for now let’s return to the roads of Swaziland -

The dirt highway, marked on the maps as asphalt, had been winding through the southeast of Swaziland for 50 kilometers and did not want to be covered with asphalt. Looking ahead, I’ll note that in general the Swaziland roads are quite okay, but our first experience turned out to be, as they say, “damn lumpy” -

At some point, I was confused by strange sounds reminiscent of “squeaking”, deciding to make sure that we had not punctured the tire, we stopped next to the sign “Beware of crocodiles and hippos”. The wheel turned out to be fine, but a hippopotamus lived in this creek. It was not possible to photograph it; as soon as we got out of the car, it plunged into the water and we didn’t see it again, apparently the animal disappeared into the reeds -

At about the 80th kilometer of the dirt road, we finally reached the town of Siteki, we had to stop: the car was covered in dirt and dust, plus it creaked at all the seams, we were tired, there was sand everywhere, our eyes itched. By the way, we saw the sign “Mabuda farm B&B” and decided to stop there. I must say that I read about this farm on the Internet, a place with history and a lot of enthusiastic reviews. First, you drive along an alley like this -

Then you get to the gate -

The owners live here -

And here, in the white houses, the guests -

From the threshold of our cottage there is a view of the plains of the central part of the country -

This is what our house looks like inside -

There is also a second floor, which I occupied -

You can even live in a birdhouse (joke) -

The town of Siteki itself is unremarkable, but there are a couple of supermarkets here where we bought provisions -

Bus station -

Vegetable market -

After spending several days in Siteki, using it as a base for traveling around Swaziland and a trip to neighboring Mozambique (more about Mozambique), we moved towards the capital of Swaziland, the town of Mbabane. About 10 km east of the capital there is a government complex, a national museum and the mausoleum of King Mswati, revered in this state as a god -

Everything is very modest, no futuristic scope -

The Parliament of Swaziland, which can be visited accompanied by security. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed to film inside, but it’s a pity, it’s very colorful there -

Ministerial parking, pay attention to the signs indicating who parks there -

Parliamentary Church -

Church inside -

National Museum -

We leave the capital and drive northwest, towards the border with South Africa, along the way we meet the picturesque Maguga Dam (

Geographical names of the world: Toponymic dictionary. - M: AST. Pospelov E.M. 2001.

Swaziland

(Swaziland), Kingdom of Swaziland , state in the southeast. Africa. Pl. 17.4 thousand km², capital – Mbabane; residence of the king and parliament - Lobamba. Since the early 1840s, it has been the object of claims of the British, Boers and Portuguese. Since 1894 - as part of the Boer Republic of Transvaal; since 1903 - a British protectorate called Swaziland, in 1967 received internal. self management. Since September 6 (national holiday) 1968 - an independent state. A constitutional monarchy; The bicameral parliament consists of the Senate and the House of Assembly. Member of the British Commonwealth. B. h. territories - plateau Veld , descending towards the coastal plain of Mozambique in three steps ranging from 20 to 80 km wide: High Veldt (hilly), Middle. Weld (flattened) and Low Weld (flat plain). Along the east borders are the Lebombo Mountains. The climate is transitional from subtropical to tropical. Wed.-Mon. temperatures 12–15 °C in winter, 20–24 °C in summer. Precipitation ranges from 500–700 mm per year in the east to 1200–1400 mm or more in the west. The main river is Usutu. A typical savannah with acacia, baobab, and thickets of drought-resistant shrubs in the west, turning into mountain meadows and acacia forests (mostly cut down and burned) in the east. On the slopes of the High Weald there are forest plantations (California pine, eucalyptus).
Population 1.1 million people. (2001); Ch. arr. Swazi people. Official languages: English and Swazi. 60% of believers are Christians (Catholics), the rest adhere to local traditional beliefs. Economically backward agricultural country. Sah. are grown. cane, corn, tobacco, citrus fruits, pineapples, cotton, potatoes, peanuts, millet. Live meat (mainly produced on European farms). Logging. Asbestos mining (4th place in the world); agricultural processing products, woodworking, yarn production, fertilizers; assembly of televisions and electrical appliances. The railway connects S. with the ports of South Africa and Mozambique (Maputo). Intl. airport. Sugar, asbestos, livestock products (meat, butter, bone meal), and fruits are exported. Economically dependent on South Africa (70% of foreign trade; over 75% of foreign currency is kept in the Reserve Bank of South Africa). National University in Kwaluseni; national library in Manzini; national museum in Lobamba. Cash unit – lilangeni and rand.

Dictionary of modern geographical names. - Ekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of academician. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Kingdom of Swaziland. State in southern Africa. The capital is Mbabane (80 thousand people - 2003). Territory – 17.4 thousand square meters. km. Administrative division: 4 districts. Population – 1.17 million people. (2004). The official language is Siswati and English. Religion – Christianity, traditional African beliefs and Islam. The monetary unit is langeni. National holiday - Independence Day (1968), September 6.
Swaziland is a member of approx. 40 international organizations, including the UN since 1968, the Organization of African Unity (OAU) since 1968, and since 2002 its successor - the African Union (AU), the Non-Aligned Movement, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) since 1994, the Community Southern African Development (SADC) since 1992, the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) since 1969 and the Commonwealth (an association of countries that were part of the British Empire).
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 agriculture. The Low Veld is famous for its rich pastures and forests, bounded in the east by the Lebombo Mountains.
Minerals. 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.
Climate. 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 savanna 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 horned ones), hippopotamuses, white rhinoceroses, zebras, crocodiles. The tsetse fly is widespread throughout the area.
Population. Population density – approx. 50 people per 1 sq. km (2002). The average annual population growth is 0.25% (the population growth rate has decreased sharply due to AIDS; in 2002 it was 1.6%). Birth rate – 27.72 per 1000 people, mortality – 25.26 per 1000 people. Infant mortality is 69.27 per 1000 births. 40.6% of the population are children under 14 years of age. Residents over 65 years of age – 3.8%. Life expectancy is 35.65 years (men – 37.18, women – 34.07). (All indicators are given in estimates for 2005).
97% of the population of Swaziland are Swazis (Bantu-speaking people). OK. 3% of residents are Europeans, mostly English. Siswati, the language of the Swazi people, is the official language along with English.
The urban population is approx. 50% (2002). After the capital, the largest city is Manzini. Traditional labor migration from Swaziland to the mines and farms of South Africa continues.
Religions. OK. 60% of the population are Christians (mostly Protestants), approx. 40% adhere to traditional African beliefs (animalism, fetishism, cult of ancestors, forces of nature, etc.), there is a small Muslim community (2004). There are also a small number of Baha'i adherents. The spread of Christianity began in the beginning. 19th century
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
State structure. A constitutional monarchy. There is a constitution in force, adopted in 1978 with amendments in 1992. 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 King of Swaziland is Mswati III. Accessed the throne on April 25, 1986.
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.
Administrative device. The country is divided into 4 regions.
Judicial system. There is a dual legal system - traditional and constitutional courts. The highest court is the Supreme Court. Decisions made in traditional courts can be appealed to constitutional courts.
Armed forces and defense. The Swaziland Armed Forces were created in 1973. Compulsory military service (2 years) was introduced in 1983. In 2002, the armed forces numbered approx. 3 thousand people The protection of public order is provided by paramilitary police forces. Defense spending in 2004 amounted to $40.5. USA. (1.4% of GDP).
Foreign policy. It is based on 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.
Political organizations. The country has a multi-party system, but political parties operate on an illegal basis. The most influential of them:
– « Swaziland Progressive Party"(Swaziland Progressive Party, SPP), Chairman. – John Nquku Created in 1960 on the basis of the Progressive Association of Swaziland, founded in 1929;
– « Ngwane National Liberation Congress», KNON(Ngwane National Liberatory Congress, NNLC), Chairman. – Dlamini Obed (Obed Dlamini), gen. sec. – Dlamini Dumisa (Dumisa Dlamini). Party, main in 1962 as a result of a split in the Progressive Party of Swaziland;
– « National Imbokodwo Movement», OSI(Imbokodvo National Movement, INM), the leadership position is vacant. Party created in 1964;
– « United Front of Swaziland", (Swaziland United Front, SUF), leader - Shongwe Matsapa (Matsapa Shongwe). Basic Party in 1962.
Trade union associations Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU). The association was created in 1980 and has 83 thousand members. Chairman – Richard Nxumalo, General. sec. – Jan Sithole
ECONOMY
The Kingdom of Swaziland is one of the most dynamically developing countries on the African continent. It has one of the highest GDP per capita; the purchasing power of the population in 2004 amounted to 5.1 thousand US dollars.
Labor resources. The economically active population is 383.2 thousand people. (2000).
Agriculture. The share of the agricultural sector in GDP is 16.1% (2004). 10.35% of land is cultivated (2001). 44% of the land is owned by foreign companies and white farmers. The remaining 56% is the property of the entire Swazi people, however, only half of it is allocated for peasant plots. The other half belongs to state-owned companies that produce commercial products. The main cash crops are sugar cane, corn, citrus fruits, pineapples and cotton. Beans, grapefruit, potatoes, rice and sweet potatoes are also grown. Livestock farming (breeding cattle, horses, donkeys, pigs, goats and sheep) has no commercial value. The country has the most extensive artificial forest plantations in Africa (120 thousand hectares). The annual catch of freshwater fish (carp, tilapia, etc.) is 70 tons (2000).
Industry. Share in GDP – 43.4% (2004). The basis of the industry is the manufacturing sector, which produces approx. 35% of GDP (2002). There are enterprises processing agricultural products - sugar and cotton factories, wood processing plants, canning factories for processing fruits and vegetables. New manufacturing industries have been created - footwear, textiles, clothing and electronics (computer assembly), the production of cotton yarn and synthetic fibers, as well as the assembly of buses and refrigerators have been established. There are enterprises producing cardboard, leather goods, glass, building materials and electrical equipment.
The mining industry is in decline due to falling demand for asbestos, as well as a lack of modern equipment. Coal production in 2004 was approx. 600 thousand tons
International trade. The volume of imports exceeds the volume of exports: in 2004, imports (in US dollars) amounted to 1.14 billion US dollars, exports – 900.1 million US dollars. The bulk of imports are machinery, petroleum products, equipment, food products, industrial consumer goods, vehicles and chemical products. The main import partners are South Africa (95.6%), EU countries (0.9%), Japan (0.9%) and England (0.3%) - 2004. The main export products are soft drink concentrates, pulp ( wood pulp), sugar, cotton yarn, refrigerators and citrus fruits. The main export partners are South Africa (59.7%), EU countries (8.8%), USA (8.8%) and Mozambique (6.2%) - 2004.
Swaziland is a member of the South African Customs Union (SACU), created in 1969 (in addition to it, it also includes Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa). The percentage received from general customs collections under this sub-regional organization accounts for about half of Swaziland's budgetary revenues.
Energy. The country has significant potential for mountain rivers. Electricity production in 2002 amounted to 402 million kilowatt-hours. The most powerful hydroelectric power station in the country is Luphokhlo-Ezulwini; there are also the Maguga hydroelectric power station on the Komati River and a hydroelectric installation built near the city of Mbabane. 80% of consumed electricity is imported from South Africa, a small part of electricity is imported from Mozambique. Electricity imports in 2002 amounted to 799 million kilowatt-hours.
Transport. The total length of railways is 301 km (2004). Swaziland's railways are connected to the railway networks of South Africa and Mozambique. Length of highways - 3.8 thousand km (with hard surface - 1064 km of roads) - 2002. There are 18 airports and runways (2 of them have hard surface) - 2004. International airports are located 40 km from the city. Mbabane and Matsapha (near Manzini).
Finance and credit. The Swaziland financial system is closely linked to the South African financial system. The monetary unit is the langeni (SZL), consisting of 100 cents, 1 langeni is equal to 1 South African rand. In accordance with the Common Monetary Area Treaty, the South African rand is legal tender in Swaziland on a par with the Langeni. In 2004, the national currency exchange rate was: 1 USD = 6.459 SZL.
Tourism. It is a fast-growing sector of the economy, developing dynamically since 1994. Foreign tourists are attracted by the picturesque mountain landscapes, diversity of wildlife, the possibility of safaris, as well as the original culture of the local population. In 2001, the country was visited by 283.12 foreign tourists, mainly from South Africa. Income from tourism in 2000 amounted to 47 million US dollars.
Sights: mountain peaks of the High Veldt, National Museum of Swaziland (Lobamba).
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
Education. 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).
Healthcare. 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.
Fine arts and crafts. 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 (female dance with knives, « reeds" – dance of girls during the initiation rite, etc.).
Press, radio broadcasting, television and Internet. Published in English: daily newspapers Swaziland Observer and Times of Swaziland, independent newspaper, weekly News from Swaziland - “Swaziland News”) and “Swazi News” (The Swazi News - “News of the Swazi People”). The fortnightly newspaper Umbiki (Reporter) is published in English and Siswati, and the daily newspaper Tikhatsi Temaswati is published in Siswati. There is no national news agency. The government service Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Service has been operating since 1966. Radio broadcasts are conducted in English and Siswati. The government service Swaziland Television Authority was established in 1978, television programs are broadcast in English. In 2003 there were 27 thousand Internet users.
STORY
Pre-colonial period. Swazis (Ama-Swazi, Amangwani) come from the South African group of Ngoni peoples, which in the 18th century. migrated to the territory of modern Swaziland. The core of the kingdom was created in the 19th century. King Sobhuza I, who conquered the lands of the indigenous people who did not speak Ngoni languages ​​and made them part of his kingdom. His successor, King Mswati II, created a strong army and expanded the territory of his state. Until 1894, the Swazi army successfully resisted the aggressive aspirations of the Afrikaners (Boers) and the British, but then the territory of the country became part of the Boer Republic of Transvaal. After the Boer War of 1899–1902, Swaziland was declared a British protectorate. see also British Empire.
From 1921 to 1982, Sobhuza II occupied the Swazi royal throne. He managed to buy back lands that the British had expropriated in favor of foreigners after 1907, and in 1967 he achieved internal self-government for Swaziland.
Period of independent development. On September 6, 1968, the independence of the Kingdom of Swaziland was proclaimed. During the long reign of Sobhuza II and his successors, Swaziland sought to maintain good neighborly relations with South Africa.
After the death of King Sobhuza II, the country was ruled by a regency council for four years, and in 1986 Prince Makhosetiwe ascended the throne, who after his coronation took the name Mswati III. Despite the discontent of the democratically minded part of society, he continued to rule as an absolute monarch.
In August 1998, King Mswati III dissolved parliament and called new elections. The opposition refused to participate in them. On the eve of the parliamentary elections and on the day of the oath of office of the cabinet of ministers, terrorist attacks took place. The government responded by intensifying repression against dissidents. In 1999, the political opposition and trade unions created the Swaziland Democratic Alliance, which organized and carried out mass public demonstrations in support of democratic reforms.
Elections to the House of Assembly took place in October 2003. Charles Magongo Sgayoyo was elected Speaker of the House. The Senate was elected on October 31, 2003, and Moses Dlamini became its chairman.
In 2003, a broad civil movement developed to carry out democratic reforms and improve the standard of living in the country. The opposition accused the king of violating the law he himself issued as part of the fight against AIDS, which prohibits sexual relations with underage girls (his 11th wife was a school-age girl).
Swaziland's external debt is US$342 million (2002). GDP in 2004 amounted to 6.02 billion US dollars, and its growth was 2.5%. Inflation in the same year reached 5.4%, and investment reached 23.6% of GDP.
The opposition continues to criticize the king (at 37 years old, Africa's last absolute monarch) for the breadth of his lifestyle. The monarch's car collection includes numerous Mercedes; each of his 12 wives has their own BMW car of the latest models; the king's birthdays are traditionally widely celebrated in the country (in 2005, approx. 10 million US dollars).
What was started continues into the end. 1999, in order to combat opposition forces, legislation was tightened: a ban was imposed on the activities of political parties and organizations, the rights of trade unions (including to strike) and judges were limited, and censorship in the media was actually introduced.
The problem of corruption is acute. According to data from the Swaziland Ministry of Finance, released in April 2005 at a parliamentary meeting, the national treasury annually loses approx. 80 million US dollars.
In the summer of 2005, a conflict arose between the King of Swaziland and the parliament over the adoption of a new constitution: the monarch refused to sign the draft approved by legislators, which, in particular, provided for taxation of members of the royal family. After making the necessary changes, on July 26, 2005, King Mswati III signed a new constitution for the country, which strengthened the absolute monarchy in Swaziland (the powers of the king were expanded, the ban on the activities of political parties was confirmed).
Internet resources: http://www.pridetour.ru/guide/africa
Lyubov Prokopenko
LITERATURE
Recent history of Africa. M., “Science”, 1968
Svanidze I.A. Lesotho. M., “Science”, 1978
Forster, S. and Nsibande, B.S. (Eds.). Swaziland: Contemporary Social and Economic Issues. Aldershot, Ashgate Publishing Ltd, 2000
The World of Learning 2003, 53rd Edition. L.-N.Y.: Europa Publications, 2002
Africa South of the Sahara. 2004. L.-N.Y.: Europa Publications, 2003
African countries and Russia. Directory. M., 2004

Encyclopedia Around the World. 2008 .

SWAZILAND

KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND
State in southeast Africa. It borders on Mozambique in the east, and South Africa in the southeast, south, west and north. The area of ​​the country is 17363 km2. In the west of the country there is a mountain range rising to 1220 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. The main rivers of the country are the Komati, Great Usutu and Umbeluzi.
Swaziland's population (1998 estimate) is approximately 966,500, with an average population density of approximately 56 persons per km2. Ethnic groups: Swazis - 90%, Zulus - 2.3%, Europeans - 2.1%. Language: Swazi, English (both official). The capital is Mbabane (administrative), Lobamba (royal residence). Largest cities: Manzini (53,000 people), Mbabane (47,000 people). The government system is a monarchy. The head of state is King Mswati III (in power since April 25, 1986). The head of government is Prime Minister J. Mbilini Dla-mini (in office since 1996). The currency is the lilangeni, and the South African rand is also in free circulation. Average life expectancy (as of 1998): 55 years - men, 60 years - women. The birth rate (per 1000 people) is 41.0. The mortality rate (per 1000 people) is 21.4.
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 Anglo-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 P, there was no ruler in the country - it was decided which of the 67 sons of the monarch should take the throne. This problem was resolved in 1986. Swaziland is a member of the UN, IMF, FAO, WHO, Organization of African Unity. British Commonwealth of Nations.
The country's attractions are the Malotozha National Park and Waterfall; in Lobamba - National Museum of Swaziland, Parliament House, Queen Mother Village.

Encyclopedia: cities and countries. 2008 .

Swaziland (Kingdom of Swaziland) is a state in southern Africa. Occupies an area of ​​17.4 thousand sq. km; population 1.3 million, mostly Swazi. The official languages ​​are English and Swazi. Believers are mostly Christian; a third of the population adhere to local traditional beliefs. Administrative division: 4 districts. The capital is Mbabane (seat of government) and Lobamba (seat of the king and seat of the legislature). Member of the Commonwealth. Swaziland is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the king. The legislative body is a bicameral parliament (Senate and House of Assembly).
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. At the end of the 1830s. A large association of Swazi tribes arose on the territory of Swaziland. In 1903-68. Swaziland is a British protectorate (cm. Great Britain). 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 (cm. South Africa), Canada , USA (cm. USA), Great Britain . The monetary unit is lilangeni.

Encyclopedia of tourism Cyril and Methodius. 2008 .

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.