The powerful state of Swaziland. Full description of Swaziland

Official name- The Kingdom of Swaziland.

Located in southern Africa. The area is 17 363 km2, the number is 1.1 million people. (2002, estimate). State-sisvati and English. The capital is Mbabane (38.6 thousand people, 2002). National holiday - Independence Day on September 6 (since 1968). The monetary unit is langeni.

Member approx. 40 international organizations, incl. UN (since 1968), AU (since 2000), SADC (since 1992).

Swaziland landmarks

Geography of Swaziland

Located between 30 ° 48 ′ and 32 ° E, 25 ° 24 ′ and 27 ° 24 ′ South; has no outlet to the sea, surrounded on three sides by the territory of South Africa, in the east it borders with Mozambique.
The landscape is a plateau that descends in three steps to the coastal plain of Mozambique: High Veld in the west (1050-1850 m), Medium Veld (450-600 m) and Low Veld (150-300 m). The low veldt is bordered in the east by the Lebombo mountains 450-825 m high with the Emlembe peak (1862 m). A dense river network forms the basins of four deep rivers flowing in Indian Ocean: Komachi, Umbeluzi, Usutu and Ngwavuma.

The soils are alluvial, red-brown, waterlogged and leached. The vegetation is diverse, although it has suffered from human activities. The High Veld meadows are gradually turning into forest savannah in the east of the country with typical tropical trees. Animal world it has considerably thinned, there are hippos, crocodiles, antelopes, zebras and even a rare blue buffalo.

In the bowels of Swaziland, coal deposits (reserves of 1 billion tons), small deposits of iron ore, tin, kaolin, talc, asbestos, gold, and diamonds have been discovered.

The climate is humid, subtropical in the west and tropical in the east. The amount of precipitation is from 500 to 1400 mm per year. Average temperatures: + 12-15 ° C in July, + 20-24 ° in February.

Swaziland population

In 22 years the population has doubled. Population growth rates have declined from 2.5% (1980) to 1.6% (2002) due to the AIDS pandemic. The birth rate is 39.59%, the mortality rate is 23.26%, the infant mortality rate is 109.43. per 1000 newborns (2002). The average life expectancy is 37 years (37.66 for women, 36.35 for men). Age and sex structure (2002): 0-14 years old - 45.5% (254 573 men and 256 677 women), 15-64 years old - 51.9% (respectively 281 645 and 301 071), 65 years and older - 2, 6% (12,027 and 17,612). The number of HIV-infected is 212 thousand, i.e. 35.6% of the adult population (2002). In 2000, approx. 50% of the population. Among adults, 80% are literate.

97% of the population are Swazis, approx. 3% are white. Languages: Siswati, English, Zulu.

70% are Christians, 10% are Muslims, the rest adhere to local beliefs.

Swaziland history

The ancestors of the present Swazis moved in the beginning. 15th century from the territory of present-day Mozambique to the northeast of Natal, and from there in the 18th century. were forced to leave under the onslaught of other tribes on the land where they now live. Already in the 18th century. the leader Ngwane III created a strong state, which in the 19th century. twice the territory of today's state. In the 1820s and 30s. Swazi defended their independence in the wars with the Zulu, and since the early 1840s. the country became the object of the predatory aspirations of the European colonialists - the British, Portuguese, Boers. Particularly active were the Boers, who bought huge land areas from the leaders for a pittance. In 1894, Swaziland was annexed by the Boer Republic of the Transvaal, and after the Boer War it became a British protectorate. King Sobhuza II, who ascended the throne in 1921, directed his efforts to buy land from foreigners and by the end of his long reign (1983), Swazi owned half of all the lands.

In the beginning. 1960s the first political parties arose that put forward the demand for the independence of the protectorate, which was granted in 1968. Swaziland became a constitutional monarchy, power was limited by parliament. In the general election, all seats in parliament went to the king's supporters, although the opposition received 20% of the vote. However, in 1973, Sobhuza II abolished the Constitution, dissolved parliament, and banned political parties. In 1978, a new constitution was introduced, which secured the absolute power of the king and made parliament an advisory body.

In 1982, after the death of Sobhuza II, an acute power struggle broke out between the court groups, and the new king Mswati III was able to ascend the throne only in 1986. Mswati III faced the activation of banned political parties operating through trade union and student organizations and demanding the democratization of society. The most active party was the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO). Demonstrations and strikes became a form of protest. In 1991, the king was forced to create a commission to revise the Constitution, whose work dragged on for a decade. In 1994, the trade unions put forward 27 demands to the government, among which were political, in particular the creation of a multi-party system. The king rejected these demands. In 1995, there were arson attacks on the houses of government officials, attacks on the buildings of parliament and the Supreme Court. In January 1996, PUDEMO launched a campaign of protest and defiance. In July, the heads of neighboring states met with the king, convincing him of the need for reforms. In January 1997, trade unions and PU-DEMO held a general strike that paralyzed the country's economy for several days. Mswati III released the arrested strike leaders and asked the South African government for mediation. With the help of South Africa, the conflict was settled, the king promised to speed up the work of the constitutional commission, but instead intensified the repression against dissidents. In August 1998, the king dissolved parliament and called for new elections. The opposition boycotted them. On the eve of the elections, there was an explosion at the bridge across which the king had just passed, and on the day of the oath of the cabinet of ministers, a bomb exploded in the office of the deputy prime minister. In 1999, opposition parties and trade unions formed the Swaziland Democratic Alliance, which held demonstrations in support of 27 union demands. In 2001, the constitutional commission finally presented to the king a draft Constitution that did not limit the absolute power of the monarch and did not lift the ban on the activities of political parties. Mswati sent the project back for revision. In 2001-02, a number of laws were passed restricting civil rights. The political situation in the country remains very tense.

State structure and political system of Swaziland

Swaziland is a monarchy, all legislative and executive power belongs to the king. The Constitution of 1978 is in effect. Administratively it is divided into 4 districts (Hoho, Loubombo, Manzini, Shiselveni). Major cities: Mbabane, Manzini.

The head of state, legislative and executive power is the king. Parliament is an advisory body, it does not accept, but only discusses bills submitted by the government; consists of the House of Assembly and the Senate. The House of Assembly consists of 65 deputies, 55 of them are elected by the population according to a complex two-tier system, ensuring the nomination of only the leaders or their representatives for candidates, and 10 are appointed by the king. The Senate has 30 members, 10 of whom are elected by the House of Assembly and 20 are appointed by the King. The term of office of the parliament is 5 years. The head of the executive branch is the king, who appoints the government headed by the prime minister. In fact, government decisions are made by the king after discussion in two traditional Swazi institutions - the Libandle (National Council), consisting of the court nobility, and Lycoco (a narrow circle of members of the royal family). The head of state is King Mswati III. Speaker of the House of Assembly - S. Matsebula. Prime Minister - S.B. Dlamini.

Outstanding statesman- King Sobhuza II (1899-1982). In the early years of his reign, he provided support to anti-colonial organizations in his country and South Africa. He was credited with resisting attempts by the authorities of the Union of South Africa (now South Africa) to annex Swaziland, as well as creating a fund to buy out Swazi land from white settlers. Last years pursued a policy aimed at preserving the traditional social structure.

Political parties operate illegally. The most active of them are: the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), the Ngwane National Liberation Congress, the Progressive Party of Swaziland.

Leading business organizations: Swaziland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Stock Exchange, Swaziland Central Cooperative Union.

Public organizations: two trade union associations - the Swaziland Labor Federation and the Swaziland Trade Union Federation, the Swaziland Human Rights Association, the Swaziland Youth Congress.

Domestic policy from the end. 1999 is characterized by the tightening of legislation and repression against the opposition. Laws were passed restricting the right to strike, ending the independence of judges, censorship of the press was effectively introduced, journalists were arrested and newspapers were closed.

Foreign policy is aimed primarily at maintaining good relations with South Africa and Mozambique, but tensions with these states arise due to the observance of human rights and because of Mozambican refugees.

Military establishment. The size of the army is approx. 3 thousand, spending on the army (2002) $ 20 million.

Swaziland has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation, established in 1999.

Swaziland Economy

The economy is characterized by stable development. GDP $ 4.6 billion, up 5% (2001) GDP per capita is one of the highest in Africa at $ 4,200. The formal sector of the economy employs 340 thousand people. (2001, estimate). Unemployment 34% (2001), it is weakened by seasonal work in South Africa. Inflation rate 7.5% (2001)

Sectoral structure by contribution to GDP (1999,%): agriculture - 10, industry - 43, services - 47.

The most important sector of the economy has become the manufacturing industry (35% of GDP), which is based on Swaziland's agricultural and forestry resources. The main enterprises are sugar production (about 500 thousand tons), wood processing (220 thousand tons of pulp), fruit and cotton processing plants. However, since the 1980s. new industries appeared - the production of cotton and synthetic fibers, textiles, footwear, leather goods, glass, building materials, cardboard, electrical equipment, electronics, refrigerators, assembly of buses, computers.

The mining industry is in decline. Depleted deposits of iron ore, prospectors stopped mining diamonds, unable to penetrate deep into the field, the demand for asbestos fell. In 2000, 380 thousand tons of coal and 12.7 thousand tons of asbestos were mined.

The potential for the development of hydropower is significant due to the presence of mountain rivers, but so far hydropower plants generate 44% of the country's electricity. Most of the energy comes from South Africa. In 2000, its consumption amounted to 900.7 million kWh, and 362 million were produced in the country.

44% of all land is owned by white farmers and foreign companies. The rest is considered to be the property of all Swazis, but only half of the Swazis are allotted for peasant allotments. It is a subsistence sector producing only 1% of GDP. The other half of the Swazi land is dedicated to the cultivation of commercial products by state-owned companies. Most of the country's corn and cotton are grown in these areas.

The main commercial crops (thousand tons, 2000): sugarcane - 3885, corn - 85, citrus - 73, pineapples - 20, cotton - 7. Sugarcane provided up to 13% of foreign exchange earnings, but now its exports have fallen due to the construction sugar factories in Swaziland itself. The corn harvest does not cover the country's needs of 140 thousand tons, and it is necessary to import grain from South Africa. Cattle breeding has no commercial value. The number of cattle in 2000 - 608 thousand.

Railways crossing the country link Swaziland with South Africa and Mozambique. The length of railways is 297 km (2001). The annual traffic volume is 1250-1300 million passenger-km and 4.3-4.5 million tons of cargo. The length of highways is 3,800 km, of which 1,064 km are paved (2002).

The country has 2 airports and 16 airstrips. Mbabane and Manzini are connected by air with the cities of South Africa and Mozambique. Transportation is carried out by the Airlink company (South Africa).

Telephone communication is carried out at the modern level through digital telephone channels, communication satellites and systems mobile phones... The number of stationary telephones - 38.5 thousand, mobile - 45 thousand (2001). There are 8 radio stations and 5 television stations. The number of Internet users is 14 thousand (2002).

All wholesale and retail trade is in private hands. Cooperation is developed (123 trade and marketing cooperatives).

Tourism developed rapidly after 1994. In 2000, 353,000 tourists, mainly from South Africa, visited the country, with tourism revenues of $ 47 million.

The government's economic policy in agriculture is aimed at increasing production through irrigation, and in industry - at diversifying manufacturing industries in order to weaken the economy's dependence on raw materials exports. It intends to achieve this through external investment, but in 2000 difficulties arose in relations with the IMF, which, along with the usual recommendations - to accelerate privatization, increase budget revenues - noted the need to control government spending, which is difficult to implement without democratic reforms and the creation of legal opposition ... Politics in social sphere is of a dual nature. The government regularly indexes civil servants' wages and encourages the private sector to do the same. As a result, there were no major strikes in 2001-02. At the same time, there is an attack on trade union rights.

The financial system is closely tied to the financial structure of South Africa. Swaziland is part of the rand currency area, the South African rand is in circulation in the country along with the langeni. The Central Bank of Swaziland is forced to adjust the langeni exchange rate, its emission, anti-inflationary measures, etc. in accordance with the policy of the Reserve Bank of South Africa. There are 2 commercial and 3 investment banks.

Since 1999, the budget has been constantly in deficit. Revenues $ 448 million, expenses - 506.9 million, including the capital budget (147 million, 2001/02). In the 2002/03 budget, taxes on goods, services and foreign trade operations provide 67% of budget revenues. External debt 336 million US dollars (2001).

The standard of living of the majority of the rural population is very low, since the land plots allocated by the leaders of less than 2 hectares make it possible to feed their families with difficulty even in good years. The standard of living in cities is much higher. Although the cost of living index in 1998-2001 increased by 6-7% per year, the growth in real wages was approximately the same. Bank deposits increased (619 million langeny in 2001).

Foreign trade (million dollars, 2001): export - 702, import - 850. Main export items: sugar cane, pulp, sugar, soft drinks concentrates, fruits. The main import items are vehicles, equipment, foodstuffs, oil products. 90% of imports and 66% of exports come from South Africa.

Swaziland Science and Culture

Primary schools attended by 98% of children. Scientific research are conducted at the University of Swaziland, at three experimental stations (crop, livestock, forestry), in the Department of Geology. There is the National Library in Manzini and the National Museum in Lobamba.

World Map Map

September 8-10, 2006

A beautiful kingdom. There is an annual reed festival, during which 15 thousand virgins collect reeds during the week to bring them to the queen mother in the last two days. At this time, the king chooses his next wife from all this crowd. This year is the tenth, or something (the king is still young).

I went to southern Africa for this holiday. Nobody knows anything about Swaziland so much that even the tour operator from South Africa did not know that the hotel in which I was supposed to stay had managed to be renamed.

The taxi driver happily said that I missed the most interesting:

- Why did you arrive so unsuccessfully, the other day we ended the cane holiday!

Sic transit gloria turagenti.

Swaziland turned out to be an endlessly sweet kingdom with mountains, responsive people and almost the largest number of registered HIV-infected people in the world (in proportion to population).

It even seemed to me that the whole cane holiday is not an ancient custom that has survived to this day, but state propaganda against premarital sex. Although it is not clear what an ancient custom is - Swaziland is 150 years old.

Local residents build different houses for all family members. In one - the husband. In the other - the wife. In the third, the second wife. Old people should be respected and settled separately. And certainly in the round house.

The old people have not been brought in here yet:

Swaziland seemed to me five times more beautiful than South Africa. Here the meaning of the adjective "picturesque" was revealed to me.

Picturesque bumps.

Picturesque insulators that are not touched by a single wire.

Picturesque restaurant with a typo.

Picturesque traffic light.

Shadows, shadows. I felt like Gagarin on Leninsky Prospekt.

Bus stops.

In the center of the city there is a sign “Driver! Slow down, the parliament is meeting. " Someone did not slow down.

Editorials of newspapers at every intersection in the city.

A newly built dam with a hydroelectric power plant.

Among 200 stalls in the local folk art market, I even found one unique one. 199 sell stereotyped, one sells real.

This kitty turned out to be too big to carry with me, I bought her little sister (with the same excellent smile):

At the other end of the kingdom, glassblowers produce glass containers.

But they know their own worth: "there is no discount, it does not work here anymore."

It is difficult for a person from the north to imagine the omnipresence of African fauna. If you meet a squirrel in the Moscow region, you will have a week of impressions. And here the monkeys calmly jump like stray dogs. During breakfast, while I was walking around for a glass of milk, some exotic bird shit on my plate with an as-yet-untouched omelette.

There is a "cultural village" - a special staff of "aborigines" entertains tourists with songs and dances ten times a day. It's awful like all the performances for tourists, like women in kokoshniks, leading a round dance in front of a delegation of Bavarian power engineers in a banquet hall of some Suzdal boarding house.

I went to see a real village. It turned out to be an orphanage. The headmaster of the orphanage was leading a lesson for the children, the head teacher and the teacher were preparing lunch.

I was very fortunate to have a taxi driver whom I chartered for the whole day. He even took his son with him - to show the kingdom. In the village, a taxi driver approached the head of the shelter, took a chair and explained the situation for 15 minutes.

The boss was imbued with the scale of the missed impressions and decided to compensate for everything. For me they sang, danced and demonstrated everything from a mortar to a jug. The boss turned out to be an absolutely amazing woman, with unimaginable blue eyes and an incredible voice.

SWAZILAND

(Kingdom of Swaziland)

General information

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

Square. The territory of Swaziland is 17,363 sq. km.

Gchavny cities, Administrative division... The capital of Swaziland is Mbabane (administrative), Lobamba (royal residence). Largest cities: Man-zini (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. Legislature is a bicameral parliament (Senate and House of Assembly).

Nature

Relief. In the west of the country there is a mountain range that rises up to 1,220 m, in the center there is a plateau, the average height of which is about 610 m, in the east of the country is a low-lying veldt.

Geological structure and minerals. The bowels of the country contain reserves of asbestos, gold, diamonds.

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

Inland waters... The main rivers of the country are the Komati, Bolshoy Ustu and Umbeluzi.

Soils and vegetation. The vegetation in the west is typical savanna with acacia and baobabs, in the east thickets of xerophytic shrubs prevail.

Animal world. The fauna is typical for the African savannas: blue buffaloes, horned antelopes, zebras, hippos, 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: Swazi - 90%, Zulus - 2.3%), Europeans - 2.1%. Languages: Swazi, English (both state).

Religion

Believers are mostly Christians, a third of the population adhere to local traditional beliefs.

A brief historical outline

The Swaziland Royal House has been known for over 400 years and is one of the oldest in Africa. V late XIX v. 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 banned political activity... For four years after the death of King Sobuza II, 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.

Brief economic outline

Economically underdeveloped agrarian country. Main crops: corn, sugarcane, citrus fruits, pineapples, cotton. Driving pasture animal husbandry. Mining of asbestos, coal, iron ore. Artificial plantations have been created on the site of the cleared primary forests. Logging. Sugar, woodworking, fruit canning factories. Exports: sugar, canned fruits, meat, timber, asbestos.

The monetary unit is lilangeni, in free circulation also the South African rand.

A brief outline of culture

Art and architecture. Lobamba. National Museum of Swaziland; Parliament building; the village of the queen mother.

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

Swaziland

(Swaziland), Kingdom of Swaziland , state in the SE. Africa. Pl. 17.4 thousand km², capital - Mbabane; the seat of the king and parliament is Lobamba. Since the beginning of the 1840s, it has been the object of the claims of the British, Boers and Portuguese. Since 1894 - as part of the Boer Republic of the Transvaal; since 1903 - a British protectorate called Swaziland, in 1967 received an 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. Part of the British Commonwealth. B. h. Territory - plateau Weld , descending to the coastal plain of Mozambique in three steps, 20 to 80 km wide: High Veld (hilly), Middle. Veld (flattened) and Low Veld (flat plain). Along the east. borders - Lebombo mountains. The climate is transitional from subtropical to tropical. Wed-months temperatures 12–15 ° С in winter, 20–24 ° С in summer. Precipitation ranges from 500–700 mm per year in the east to 1200–1400 mm and more in the west. Main river- Usutu. Typical savanna with acacia, baobab, thickets of drought-resistant shrubs in the west, turning into mountain meadows and forests from acacias (including those cut and burnt) in the east. On the slopes of Vysoky Veld there are forest plantations (Californian pine, eucalyptus).
Population 1.1 million. (2001); ch. arr. Swazi people. Officer. languages - English and Swazi. 60% of believers are Christians (Catholics), the rest adhere to local traditional beliefs. An economically backward agrarian country. Sah is grown. cane, corn, tobacco, citrus fruits, pineapples, cotton, potatoes, peanuts, millet. Live meat (hl. Arr. On the farms of Europeans). Logging. Asbestos mining (4th place in the world); processing of villages. products, woodworking, production of yarn, fertilizers; assembly of televisions and electrical appliances. The railway connects the north with the ports of South Africa and Mozambique (Maputo). International an airport. Sugar, asbestos, livestock products (meat, butter, bone meal), and fruits are exported. Economically dependent on South Africa (70% foreign trade; over 75% of foreign currency is kept in the Reserve Bank of South Africa). Nat. un-t in Kvaluseni; nat. library in Manzini; nat. museum in Lobamba. Monetary unit. - lilangeni and rand.

Dictionary of modern place names. - Yekaterinburg: U-Factoria. Under the general editorship of Acad. V. M. Kotlyakova. 2006 .

Kingdom of Swaziland. State in southern Africa. The capital is Mbabane (80 thousand people - 2003). Territory - 17.4 thousand sq. km. Administrative division - 4 districts. Population - 1.17 million people. (2004). The official language is Sisvati 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 Communities Southern African Development (SADC) since 1992, the South African Customs Union (UATC) since 1969 and the Commonwealth (an association of countries that were part of the British Empire).
Nature. The surface of Swaziland is a highland descending eastward to the coastal plain of Mozambique in three steps: High Weld (1000–1500 m above sea level), Middle Weld (400–800 m) and Low Veld (150–300 m). Located in the west, the High Weld is characterized by a rugged relief, with individual peaks exceeding 1800 m, the highest point being Mount Emlembe (1862 m). Medium Weld has a leveled surface and is conducive to Agriculture... Low Veld is famous for its rich pastures and forests, in the east it is bounded by the Lebombo Mountains.
Mineral resources. Swaziland has significant reserves of minerals - diamonds, asbestos, gold, iron, coal, kaolin, tin, pyrophyllite, semi-precious stones (beryl, quartz, etc.) and talc.
Dense river network, the largest rivers are Komati, Ngvavuma, Umbeluzi, Usutu. Swaziland's main rivers cut through these mountains and flow into the Indian Ocean.
Climate. The Vysokoi Velda 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. Middle Weld and Lebombo Mountains are in a transition zone, and Low Weld is in a tropical climate belt with average temperatures of 20-24 ° C and an average annual rainfall of 500-700 mm.
Flora- meadow in the region of the High Veld and forest savanna in the eastern part of the country (various acacias, including Australian, American pines, baobabs, gum tree, xerophytic shrubs, eucalyptus, etc.)
Fauna- meet different types antelope (including horned), hippos, white rhinos, zebras, crocodiles. The tsetse fly is common throughout the territory.
Population. Population density - approx. 50 people for 1 sq. km (2002). The average annual population growth is 0.25% (the population growth rate has dropped sharply due to AIDS, in 2002 it was 1.6%). The birth rate is 27.72 per 1000 people, the mortality rate is 25.26 per 1000 people. The infant mortality rate is 69.27 per 1000 newborns. 40.6% of the population are children under 14 years of age. Residents who have reached the age of 65 - 3.8%. Life expectancy is 35.65 years (men - 37.18, women - 34.07). (All figures are in 2005 estimates).
97% of the population of Swaziland is Swazi (Bantu-speaking people). OK. 3% of residents are Europeans, mostly British. Sisvati, the language of the Swazi people, is the state language on a par with English.
The urban population is approx. 50% (2002). After the capital, the most Big City- Manzini. Traditional labor migration from Swaziland to mines and farms in 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 at the beginning. 19th century
PUBLIC STRUCTURE AND POLICY
State structure. A constitutional monarchy. The constitution is in force, adopted in 1978 as amended 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 elected 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 members) and the Senate (30 members). Parliament performs the functions of an advisory body under the king, since it does not accept, but only discusses the bills submitted by the government. In addition, the king has the right to veto parliamentary decisions. The 10 members of the House of Assembly are appointed by the king and 55 are popularly elected through a complex two-tier scheme. 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 chambers of parliament is 5 years.
In practice, state decisions are made by the king after their discussion in Libandle (the National Council, whose members are representatives of the court nobility, the king and the queen mother) and Lycoco (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. He ascended the throne on April 25, 1986.
The national flag is a rectangular panel consisting of three horizontal stripes: two blue (above and below) and one red between them. The red stripe is bordered on both sides by narrow yellow stripes. In the center of the red stripe is superimposed the image of a large black and white shield, which covers two parallel spears and a wand decorated with tassels.
Administrative device. The country is divided into 4 regions.
The 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. Swaziland Armed Forces established 1973. Mandatory military service(2 years) introduced since 1983. In 2002 the armed forces totaled approx. 3 thousand people The maintenance of public order is provided by paramilitary police units. Defense spending in 2004 was $ 40.5. USA. (1.4% of GDP).
Foreign policy. It is based on the policy of non-alignment. The main foreign policy partners are South Africa and Mozambique. Relations with Mozambique are complicated by the influx of Mozambican refugees.
The question of establishing bilateral diplomatic relations between the USSR and Swaziland was first discussed at the end. 1970s during an unofficial visit to the country of an embassy employee Soviet Union in Mozambique. King Sobhuza II, under pressure from the then government of South Africa, refused the proposed contacts. Diplomatic relations between The Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Swaziland were established on November 19, 1999.
Political organizations. A multi-party system has developed in the country, but political parties operate on an illegal basis. The most influential of them are:
– « 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 Lunch (Obed Dlamini), gen. sec. - Dumisa Dlamini. Party, fundamentals. in 1962 as a result of a split in the Progressive Party of Swaziland;
– « National movement Imbocodwo», OSI(Imbokodvo National Movement, INM), the leader's seat is vacant. Party created. in 1964;
– « United Front of Swaziland”, (Swaziland United Front, SUF), led by Matsapa Shongwe. Basics party. in 1962.
Trade union associations Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU). The association was founded in 1980 and has 83 thousand members. Chairman - Richard Nxumalo, Gen. sec. - Jan Sithole.
ECONOMY
The Kingdom of Swaziland is one of the most dynamically developing states of the African continent. One of the highest GDP per capita is noted, 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 the land is cultivated (2001). 44% of the land is owned by foreign companies and white farmers. The remaining 56% are the property of the entire Swazi people, however, only half of them are allocated for peasant allotments. The other half belongs to state-owned companies that produce commercial products. Major cash crops: sugarcane, corn, citrus fruits, pineapples and cotton. Legumes, grapefruits, potatoes, rice and sweet potatoes are also grown. Livestock raising (breeding of cattle, horses, donkeys, pigs, goats and sheep) has no commercial value. The country has the most extensive in Africa (120 thousand hectares) artificial forest plantations. 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 industry, which gives approx. 35% of GDP (2002). There are enterprises for the processing of agricultural products - sugar and cotton refineries, woodworking plants, canneries for the processing of fruits and vegetables. New branches of the manufacturing industry have been created - footwear, textile, clothing and electronic (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 for the production of cardboard, leather goods, glass, building materials and electrical equipment.
The mining industry is declining due to falling demand for asbestos and a lack of modern equipment. Coal production in 2004 amounted to 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 is made up of machinery, petroleum products, equipment, foodstuffs, 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 commodities 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 (UATC), created in 1969 (in addition to it, it also includes Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa). The percentage earned from total customs duties under this subregional organization is about half of Swaziland's budgetary revenues.
Energy. The country has significant potential mountain rivers. Electricity production in 2002 amounted to 402 million kilowatt-hours. The most powerful hydroelectric power station in the country is Lupkhokhlo-Ezulvini; there are also Maguga hydroelectric power station on the Komati river and a hydroelectric power plant built near the city of Mbabane. 80% of the electricity consumed is imported from South Africa, a small part of the 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 railways are linked to the South African and Mozambique rail network. Length highways- 3.8 thousand km (with hard surface - 1064 km of roads) - 2002. There are 18 airports and airstrips (2 of them have a hard surface) - 2004. International airports are located 40 km from Mbabane and in Matsapha (near Manzini).
Finance and credit. Swaziland's financial system is closely tied to financial system SOUTH AFRICA. The monetary unit is the langeni (SZL), consisting of 100 cents, 1 langeni is equal to 1 South African rand. The South African rand in Swaziland is legal tender along with the langeni under the common currency area treaty. In 2004, the national currency rate was: 1 USD = 6.459 SZL.
Tourism. It is a fast-growing sector of the economy, dynamically developing since 1994. Foreign tourists are attracted by picturesque mountain landscapes, a variety of fauna, the possibility of a safari, 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. Tourism revenues in 2000 were $ 47 million.
Sightseeing: mountain peaks of the High Veld, Swaziland National Museum (Lobamba).
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
Education. The first schools were opened at Christian missions in the beginning. 19th century
The education system is underdeveloped, education is not compulsory. Primary schools (duration of study is 7 years) children attend 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 covered 98% of children of the corresponding age (2002). Into the system higher education includes the University of Swaziland (located in the suburb of Manzini Kvaluseni, opened in 1964 as a 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 were literate (82.6% of men and 80.8% of women).
Healthcare. Swaziland is one of the African countries with the most high level the incidence of AIDS - 38.8% (2003). In 2003, there were 220 thousand AIDS patients and HIV-infected, 17 thousand people died. AIDS is 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.
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 the visual arts in Swaziland began long before our era. NS. In the caves and grottoes of the Drakensberg Mountains, rock paintings of the Bushmen have been preserved - images of people, animals or fantastic creatures, made with mineral and earth paints, as well as lime and soot diluted in water and animal fat.
Pottery, blacksmithing, metalworking (bronze and copper), weaving baskets and mats from grass and straw, the production of leather goods, as well as wood and horn carving are widespread crafts and artistic trades. Folk crafts are on display at the Swaziland National Museum in Lobamba (founded in 1972).
Music. Playing musical instruments, singing and dancing are closely related to everyday life Swazi people. Traditional rituals accompany singing and dancing (female dance with knives, « reeds"- dance of girls during the initiation ceremony, etc.).
Press, radio broadcasting, television and the Internet. Published on English language: the daily newspapers Swaziland Observer and Times of Swaziland, an independent newspaper, the weekly News from Swaziland ") And" Swazi News "(The Swazi News -" News of the Swazi people "). The bi-weekly newspaper Umbiki (Reporter) is published in English and the Sisvati language, and the daily Tikhatsi Temaswati is published in Sisvati. There is no national news agency. The government service Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Service has been operating since 1966. Radio broadcasts are in English and Siswati. The government service Swaziland Television Authority was established in 1978 and television programs are broadcast in English. In 2003, there were 27 thousand Internet users.
HISTORY
Pre-colonial period. Swazi (ama-swazi, amangwani) descend from the South African group of the 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 the Ngoni languages, and made them part of his kingdom. His successor, King Mswati II, created 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 country's territory 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.
In 1921-1982, the royal throne of the Swazi was occupied by Sobhuza II. He managed to redeem land that, after 1907, the British expropriated in favor of foreigners, and in 1967 achieved internal self-government for Swaziland.
A 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 Makhosetiva ascended the throne, who after his coronation took the name Mswati III. Despite the dissatisfaction of the democratic-minded part of society, he continued to rule as an absolute monarch.
In August 1998, King Mswati III dissolved parliament and called for new elections. The opposition refused to participate in them. Terrorist attacks took place on the eve of the parliamentary elections and on the day the cabinet was sworn in. The government responded by stepping up its crackdown on dissidents. In 1999, the political opposition and trade unions formed the Swaziland Democratic Alliance, which organized and led massive popular demonstrations in support of democratic reform.
Elections to the House of Assembly took place in October 2003. Charles Magongo S "gayoyo was elected Speaker of the House. The Senate was elected on October 31, 2003, and Moses Dlamini became President."
In 2003, a broad civic movement unfolded for the implementation of democratic reforms and an increase in the standard of living in the country. The opposition accused the king of violating the law he had issued in the fight against AIDS, which prohibits sex with underage girls (his 11th wife was a girl of school age).
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 investments - 23.6% of GDP.
The opposition continues to criticize the king (the 37-year-old last absolute monarch of Africa) for his wide-ranging lifestyle. In the collection of the monarch's cars there are numerous Mercedes, each of his 12 wives has at their disposal their own BMW car of the latest models, the birthdays of the king are traditionally widely celebrated in the country (in 2005, approx. USD 10 million).
Started in the end continues. 1999, in order to fight opposition forces, the legislation was tightened: a ban was imposed on the activities of political parties and organizations, the rights of trade unions (including the right to strike) and judges were restricted, and censorship was actually introduced in the media.
Corruption is an acute problem. According to the Swaziland Ministry of Finance, released in April 2005 at a parliamentary meeting, the national treasury loses approx. US $ 80 million.
In the summer of 2005, a conflict arose between the king of Swaziland and parliament over the adoption of a new constitution: the monarch refused to sign its draft approved by legislators, which, in particular, provided for the taxation of members of the royal family. After making the necessary changes on July 26, 2005, King Mswati III signed new constitution the country that 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, 53 rd 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 the southeast of Africa. In the east it borders with Mozambique, in the southeast, south, west and north - with South Africa. The area of the country is 17363 km2. In the west of the country there is a mountain range that rises up to 1220 m, in the center there is a plateau, the average height of which is about 610 m, the east of the country is occupied by a low-lying veldt. The main rivers of the country are the Komati, Bolshoy Ustu and Umbeluzi.
The population of Swaziland (as of 1998) is about 966,500, with an average population density of about 56 people per km2. Ethnic groups: Swazi - 90%, Zulus - 2.3%, Europeans - 2.1%. Language: Swazi, English (both state). The capital is Mbabane (administrative), Lobamba (royal residence). Largest cities: Manzini (53,000 people), Mbabane (47,000 people). The state structure is a monarchy. The head of state is King Mswati III (in power since April 25, 1986). The head of the government is Prime Minister J. Mbilini Dla-mini (in office since 1996). The monetary unit is lilangeni, in free circulation also the South African rand. Average life expectancy (for 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 Swaziland Royal House 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 Sobuza II, 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 sights of the country are National park and the Malotozha waterfall; in Lobamba - the National Museum of Swaziland, the parliament building, the village of the queen mother.

Encyclopedia: cities and countries. 2008 .

Swaziland (Kingdom of Swaziland) is a state in southern Africa. Occupies an area of 17.4 thousand square kilometers; population 1.3 million, mainly Swazis. The official language is English and Swazi. Believers are mostly Christians, a third of the population adhere to local traditional beliefs. Administrative divisions: 4 districts. The capital is Mbabane (seat of the government) and Lobamba (seat of the king and seat of the legislature). Part of the Commonwealth. Swaziland is a constitutional monarchy. The head of state is the king. The legislature is a bicameral parliament (Senate and House of Assembly).
The surface is the Weld plateau (height up to 1445 m), descending in steps from west to east. The climate is transitional from subtropical to tropical, arid. Average monthly temperatures in summer are 20-24 ° С, in winter 12-15 ° С, precipitation is from 500 to 1400 mm per year. Savannah. In the late 1830s. on the territory of Swaziland, a large association of Swazi tribes arose. In 1903-68. Swaziland - British protectorate (cm. United Kingdom)... Independent state since 1968.
Economically underdeveloped agrarian country. Main crops: corn, sugarcane, citrus fruits, pineapples, cotton. Remote pasture animal husbandry. Mining of asbestos, coal, iron ore. Artificial plantations have been created on the site of the cleared primary forests. Logging. Sugar, woodworking, fruit canning factories. Main foreign trade partners: South Africa (cm. South Africa), Canada, USA (cm. USA), United Kingdom . The monetary unit is lilangeni.

Cyril and Methodius Encyclopedia of Tourism. 2008 .

Synonyms:

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 Communities Southern African Development (SADC) since 1992, the South African Customs Union (UATC) since 1969 and the Commonwealth (an association of countries that were part of the British Empire).

Nature.

The surface of Swaziland is a highland descending eastward to the coastal plain of Mozambique, in three steps: High Veld (1000-1500 m above sea level), Middle Veld (400-800 m) and Low Veld (150-300 m). Located in the west, the High Weld is characterized by a rugged relief, with individual peaks exceeding 1800 m, the highest point being Mount Emlembe (1862 m). Medium Weld has a leveled surface and is good for farming. Low Veld is famous for its rich pastures and forests, in the east it is bounded by the Lebombo Mountains.

Minerals.

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

Dense river network, the largest rivers are Komati, Ngvavuma, Umbeluzi, Usutu. Swaziland's main rivers cut through these mountains and flow into the Indian Ocean.

Climate.

The region of High Velda 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. Middle Weld and Lebombo Mountains are in a transition zone, and Low Weld is in a tropical climate zone with average temperatures of 20-24 ° C and an average annual rainfall of 500-700 mm.

Flora- meadow in the area of the High Veld and forest savanna in the eastern part of the country (various acacias, including Australian, American pines, baobabs, gum tree, xerophytic shrubs, eucalyptus, etc.)

Fauna- there are different types of antelopes (including horned), hippos, white rhinos, zebras, crocodiles. The tsetse fly is common throughout the territory.

Population.

Population density - approx. 50 people for 1 sq. km (2002). The average annual population growth is 0.25% (the population growth rate has dropped sharply due to AIDS, in 2002 it was 1.6%).
The birth rate is 27.12 per 1000 people, the mortality rate is 14.99 per 1000 people. Child mortality - 66.71 per 1000 newborns (data for 2010).
38.6% of the population are children under 14 years of age. Residents who have reached the age of 65 - 3.5%. Life expectancy is 47.97 years (men - 48.14, women - 47.8). (All figures are in 2010 estimates).
97% of the population of Swaziland is Swazi (Bantu-speaking people). OK. 3% of residents are Europeans, mostly British. Siswati, the language of the Swazi people, is the state language along with English.
The urban population is approx. 25% (2008). After the capital, the largest city is Manzini. Traditional labor migration from Swaziland to mines and farms in 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 at the beginning. 19th century

PUBLIC STRUCTURE AND POLICY

State structure.

A constitutional monarchy. The constitution is in force, adopted in 1978 as amended 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 elected 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 members) and the Senate (30 members). Parliament performs the functions of an advisory body under the king, since it does not accept, but only discusses the bills submitted by the government. In addition, the king has the right to veto parliamentary decisions. The 10 members of the House of Assembly are appointed by the king and 55 are popularly elected through a complex two-tier scheme. 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 chambers of parliament is 5 years.

In practice, state decisions are made by the king after their discussion in Libandle (the National Council, whose members are representatives of the court nobility, the king and the queen mother) and Lycoco (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 (above and below) and one red between them. The red stripe is bordered on both sides by narrow yellow stripes. In the center of the red stripe is superimposed the image of a large black and white shield, which covers two parallel spears and a wand decorated with tassels.
Administrative device.

The country is divided into 4 regions.

The 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 armed forces of Swaziland were created in 1973. Compulsory military service (2 years) has been introduced since 1983. In 2002, the armed forces totaled approx. 3 thousand people The maintenance of public order is provided by paramilitary police units. Defense spending in 2004 was $ 40.5. USA. (1.4% of GDP).

Foreign policy.

It is based on the policy of non-alignment. The main foreign policy partners are South Africa and Mozambique. Relations with Mozambique are complicated by the influx of Mozambican refugees.

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

Political organizations.

A multi-party system has developed in the country, but political parties operate on an illegal basis. The most influential of them are:
- "Progressive Party of Swaziland" (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 Lunch (Obed Dlamini), gen. sec. - Dumisa Dlamini. Party, fundamentals. in 1962 as a result of a split in the Progressive Party of Swaziland;

- "Imbokodvo National Movement", INM (Imbokodvo National Movement, INM), the leader's seat is vacant. Party created. in 1964;

- Swaziland United Front (SUF), led by Matsapa Shongwe. Basics party. in 1962.

Trade union associations Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU). The association was founded in 1980 and has 83 thousand members. Chairman - Richard Nxumalo, Gen. sec. - Jan Sithole.

ECONOMY

The Kingdom of Swaziland is one of the most dynamically developing states of the African continent. One of the highest GDP per capita is noted, 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 the land is cultivated (2001). 44% of the land is owned by foreign companies and white farmers. The remaining 56% are the property of the entire Swazi people, however, only half of them are allocated for peasant allotments. The other half belongs to state-owned companies that produce commercial products. Major cash crops: sugarcane, corn, citrus fruits, pineapples and cotton. Legumes, grapefruits, potatoes, rice and sweet potatoes are also grown. Livestock raising (breeding of cattle, horses, donkeys, pigs, goats and sheep) has no commercial value. The country has the most extensive in Africa (120 thousand hectares) artificial forest plantations. 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 industry, which gives approx. 35% of GDP (2002). There are enterprises for the processing of agricultural products - sugar and cotton refineries, woodworking plants, canneries for the processing of fruits and vegetables. New branches of the manufacturing industry have been created - footwear, textile, clothing and electronic (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 for the production of cardboard, leather haberdashery, glass, building materials and electrical equipment.

The mining industry is declining due to falling demand for asbestos and a lack of modern equipment. Coal production in 2004 amounted to 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 is made up of machinery, petroleum products, equipment, foodstuffs, 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 commodities 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 (UATS), created in 1969 (in addition to it, it also includes Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and South Africa). The percentage earned from total customs duties under this subregional organization is about half of Swaziland's budgetary revenues.

Energy.

The country has a significant potential of mountain rivers. Electricity production in 2002 amounted to 402 million kilowatt-hours. The most powerful hydroelectric power station in the country is Lupkhokhlo-Ezulvini; there are also Maguga hydroelectric power station on the Komati river and a hydroelectric power plant built near the city of Mbabane. 80% of the electricity consumed is imported from South Africa, a small part of the 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 railways are linked to the South African and Mozambique rail network. The length of highways - 3.8 thousand km (with a hard surface - 1064 km of roads) - 2002. There are 18 airports and landing sites (2 of them have a hard surface) - 2004. International airports are located 40 km from the city. Mbabane and in Matsapha (near Manzini).

Finance and credit.

The financial system of Swaziland is closely tied to the financial system of South Africa. The monetary unit is langeni (SZL), consisting of 100 cents, 1 langeni is equal to 1 South African rand. The South African rand in Swaziland is legal tender along with the langeni under the common currency area treaty. In 2004, the national currency rate was: 1 USD = 6.459 SZL.

Tourism.

It is a fast-growing sector of the economy, dynamically developing since 1994. Foreign tourists are attracted by picturesque mountain landscapes, a variety of fauna, the possibility of a safari, 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. Tourism revenues in 2000 were $ 47 million.

Sightseeing: mountain peaks of the High Veld, Swaziland National Museum (Lobamba).

SOCIETY AND CULTURE

Education.

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

The education system is underdeveloped, education is not compulsory. Primary schools (duration of study is 7 years) children attend 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 system of higher education includes the University of Swaziland (located in the suburb of Manzini Kvaluseni, opened in 1964 as a 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 were 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 AIDS patients and HIV-infected, 17 thousand people died. AIDS is 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.

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

Pottery, blacksmithing, metalworking (bronze and copper), weaving baskets and mats from grass and straw, the production of leather goods, as well as wood and horn carving are widespread crafts and artistic trades. Folk crafts are on display at the Swaziland National Museum in Lobamba (founded in 1972).

Music. Playing musical instruments, singing and dancing are closely related to the daily life of the Swazi people. Traditional rituals are accompanied by singing and dancing (female dance with knives, "reeds" - the dance of girls during the initiation ceremony, etc.).

Press, radio broadcasting, television and the Internet.

Published in English: the daily newspapers Swaziland Observer and Times of Swaziland, an independent newspaper, the weekly News from Swaziland - "News of Swaziland") and "Swazi News" (The Swazi News - "News of the Swazi people"). The bi-weekly newspaper Umbiki (Reporter) is published in English and the Sisvati language, and the daily Tikhatsi Temaswati is published in Sisvati. There is no national news agency. The government service Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Service has been operating since 1966. Radio broadcasts are in English and Siswati. The government service Swaziland Television Authority was established in 1978 and television programs are broadcast in English. In 2003, there were 27 thousand Internet users.

HISTORY

Pre-colonial period.

Swazi (ama-swazi, amangwani) descend from the South African group of the 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 the 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 country's territory 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.

In 1921-1982, the royal throne of the Swazi was occupied by Sobhuza II. He managed to redeem land that, after 1907, the British expropriated in favor of foreigners, and in 1967 achieved internal self-government for Swaziland.
A 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 Makhosetiva ascended the throne, who after his coronation took the name Mswati III. Despite the dissatisfaction of the democratic-minded part of society, he continued to rule as an absolute monarch.

In August 1998, King Mswati III dissolved parliament and called for new elections. The opposition refused to participate in them. Terrorist attacks took place on the eve of the parliamentary elections and on the day the cabinet was sworn in. The government responded by stepping up its crackdown on dissidents. In 1999, the political opposition and trade unions formed the Swaziland Democratic Alliance, which organized and led massive popular demonstrations in support of democratic reform.

Elections to the House of Assembly took place in October 2003. Charles Magongo S "gayoyo was elected Speaker of the House. The Senate was elected on October 31, 2003, and Moses Dlamini became President."

In 2003, a broad civic movement unfolded for the implementation of democratic reforms and an increase in the standard of living in the country. The opposition accused the king of violating the law he had issued in the fight against AIDS, which prohibits sex with underage girls (his 11th wife was a girl of school age).

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 investments - 23.6% of GDP.

The opposition continues to criticize the king (the 37-year-old last absolute monarch of Africa) for his wide-ranging lifestyle. In the collection of the monarch's cars there are numerous Mercedes, each of his 12 wives has at their disposal their own BMW car of the latest models, the birthdays of the king are traditionally widely celebrated in the country (in 2005, approx. USD 10 million).

Started in the end continues. 1999, in order to fight opposition forces, the legislation was tightened: a ban was imposed on the activities of political parties and organizations, the rights of trade unions (including the right to strike) and judges were restricted, and censorship was actually introduced in the media.

Corruption is an acute problem. According to the Swaziland Ministry of Finance, released in April 2005 at a parliamentary meeting, the national treasury loses approx. US $ 80 million.

In the summer of 2005, a conflict arose between the king of Swaziland and parliament over the adoption of a new constitution: the monarch refused to sign its draft approved by legislators, which, in particular, provided for the taxation of members of the royal family. After making the necessary changes, on July 26, 2005, King Mswati III signed a new constitution of 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).

In September 2008, parliamentary elections were held in the country, which international observers considered meaningless due to the lack of political parties in the struggle for parliamentary seats. All candidates for parliamentary seats are private individuals. About 400 thousand residents of Swaziland, who have voting rights, have elected 55 deputies of the House of Assembly, 10 more parliamentarians are appointed by King Mswati III.