Swaziland
Encyclopedia : S : SW : SWA : Swaziland
- Not to be confused with Sw(it)z(er)land or Sweden.
History
Main article: History of SwazilandHuman remains and artifacts from more than 100,000 years ago have been found in Swaziland. The earliest inhabitants of the area were Khoisan hunter-gatherers. They were largely replaced by Bantu tribes during Bantu migrations. Evidence of agriculture and iron use dates from about the 4th century, and people speaking languages ancestral to current Sotho and Nguni languages began settling no later than the 11th century. The ruling Dlamini lineage had chiefships in the region in the 18th century. An enlarged Swazi kingdom was established by Sobhuza I in the early 19th century. Soon thereafter the first whites started to settle in the area. In the 1890s the South African Republic in the Transvaal claimed sovereignty over Swaziland but never fully established power. After the South African War of 1899–1902, Swaziland became a British protectorate. The country was eventually granted independence on September 6, 1968. Since then, Swaziland has seen a struggle between pro-democracy activists and the totalitarian monarchy.
Politics
- More information on politics and government of Swaziland can be found at the Politics and government of Swaziland series.
The 1968 constitution was suspended in 1973 in a State of Emergency decree presumably still in force today, though the government claims that it has been dissolved. In 2001 King Mswati III appointed a committee to draft a new constitution. Drafts were released for comment in May 2003 and November 2004. However they were strongly criticised by civil society organizations in Swaziland and human rights organisations elsewhere. In 2005, the constitution was put into to effect though there is still much debate in the country about that issue.
King Mswati III is often criticized for living so lavishly in a nation that is afflicted by the world's highest HIV infection rates. His fleet of luxury cars, and the millions spent towards refurbishing his numerous wives' luxury mansions, are at odds with the approximately 34 percent of the nation that stand unemployed, nearly 70 percent of which live on less than a dollar a day, and with around 39 percent of adults who are afflicted by HIV.
Districts
Main article: Districts of Swaziland
Swaziland is divided into four districts:
Geography
Main article: Geography of Swaziland
Swaziland offers a wide variety of landscapes, from the mountains along the Mozambican border to savannas in the east and rainforest in the northwest. Several rivers flow through the country, such as the Lusutfu River. With 50,000 inhabitants, the capital city - Mbabane - is the largest town in the nation; others include Manzini, Lobamba and Siteki.
Labour
Swaziland is in the process or formulating an Action Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour, which is expected to be adopted in the period 2006-2007.Culture
Main article: Culture of Swaziland
External links
Government
- [Swaziland Government] official government site
- [Ministry of Tourism] official site
News
- [African News Dimension]
- [Times of Swaziland] newspaper
Overviews
- [BBC News - Country Profile: Swaziland]
- [CIA World Factbook - Swaziland]
- [Open Directory Project - Swaziland] directory category
- [US State Department - Swaziland] includes Background Notes, Country Study and major reports
Tourism
- from Wikitravel
Other
- [Online documentary about King Mswati III]
- [Matsapha Airport information]
- [Friends of Swaziland], returned Peace Corps volunteer group
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natan_Gamedze Nathan Gamzede, Swazi Prince and Orthodox Rabbi
- http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/wz.html
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