Country Information on Swaziland

Terrain Swaziland can be divided into three types of terrain: the mountainous area in the west (highveld) reaches altitudes of over 1,220 m in some places, this is where the country's highest elevation, the Emlembe, is located (1,862 m); the middleveld (grassland) is at an altitude of 610 m on average; and the eastern part (lowveld) varies in altitude between 120 m and 305 m. The principal rivers are the Komati, Mbuluzi, and Ngwavuma. The steady flow of the rivers, fed by abundant rain in the mountains, supports irrigation and hydroelectric power projects in the lowlands. Climate The country's climate varies according to altitude, covering tropical to temperate conditions. Average annual precipitation is between 1,000 and 2,280 mm. In the west, average precipitation reaches only approx. 500 to 1,000 mm a year. Fauna/Flora Excessive hunting has reduced the number of wild game enormously. Still, great pains are taken to create new habitats for the remaining animals. The Hlane Royal National Park houses the country's largest wildlife population. It contains lions, elephants, rhinoceroses, crocodiles, giraffes, zebras, a great variety of birds of prey, and marabous. Excessive exploitation of large parts of the country through monoculture and livestock breeding has led to a deteriorating quality of the soil and to threatening soil erosion. Vegetation includes acacia trees, thorn bushes, baobab, and mahogany. History/Politics Around the 16th century AD, Nguni people migrated from Congo southward to settle the area of present-day Swaziland in the 18th century. In the early 19th century the Nguni united with other regional tribes under the leadership of Sobhusa I in order to protect themselves against attacks by the Zulus. The unification process was completed when Boer attacks became more frequent and the country was named after King M'swasi who resisted the intruders. Shortly before his death, King M'swasi turned to the British for help who declared the area a protectorate in 1867. Although the entire southern part of the African continent was under British rule, some territorial pockets with differing colonial administration structures remained. Swazi self-administration was finally recognized in 1941. British decolonisation measures were introduced in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Swaziland was granted internal autonomy in 1967 and full independence with King Sobhusa II as head of state in 1968. In 1973 Sobhusa II dissolved both houses of parliament, declared himself absolute ruler and banned political parties. His politics of good relations with South Africa resulted in civil protest and an increase in opposition activities, which the King violently suppressed. After his death in 1982 two of the King's wives (first Dzliwe, then Ntombi) assumed power and maintained control until Crown Prince Makhosevite was crowned king as Mswati III in 1986. He was not only head of state, but also held executive power. Mswati III dissolved parliament in 1992 and replaced it by the Liqoqo (a traditional tribal council). Opposition parties repeatedly insisted on reinstituting the 1968 constitution, which provides for an acting parliament. However, so far the constitution has not been adopted yet. Economy More than 60% of the country's active population engage in subsistence agriculture (cultivation and livestock breeding to cover one's own basic needs). Among the vital agricultural commodities there are sugar cane, cotton, maize, tobacco, rice, citrus fruits, millet, and peanuts. Livestock breeding includes cattle, sheep, and goats. Mining has declined in importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted by 1978, and health concerns have cut world demand for asbestos. Diamonds, hard coal, and kaolin are still being mined. Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa, from which it receives 90% of its imports and to which it sends half of its exports. The most important exports are soft drink concentrate, sugar, wood pulp, and cotton. Remittances from Swazi workers in South African mines supplement domestically earned income by as much as 20%. Culture As far as present-day Swaziland is concerned, dancing and singing are features of the country's main cultural ceremonies, and traditional get-togethers can be brilliant celebrations, with men and women dancing in unison in spectacular traditional gear. The Incwala (sometimes called Ncwala) or 'first fruits' ceremony and Umhlanga (where marriageable young Swazi women for the king are featured) are the most sacred in the Swazi calendar. Both celebrations usually go on for days and take place in Lobamba where the royal court is situated. They symbolize the strong bond between the Swazi as a people and a nation and are supposed to strengthen their bonds with the monarch (the King and the Queen Mother).