Mswati III of Swaziland
|
|
Mswati-II.jpeg
Mswati III (born Makhosetive on April 19, 1968) is the king of Swaziland. He succeeded his late father, Sobhuza II, in 1986.
| Contents |
Early life
He was the 67th son of the elderly King Sobhuza II, and the only child of Ntombi Thwala, also known as Inkosikati LaTfwala, one of the King's younger wives. He was born at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital, only four months before Swaziland attained independence from Britain, and after he and his mother were discharged from the hospital they went to live at one of King Sobhuza's residences of Etjeni near Masundwini Palace. His birth name was Makhosetwe (King of Nations).
As a young prince Makhosetive attended the Masundwini Primary School and Lozitha Palace School. He sat for the Swaziland Primary Certificate examination in December 1982 at Phondo Royal Residence and got a First Class with merit in Mathematics and English. He developed a great interest in the royal guard, becoming the first young cadet to join the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF). He took his military training very seriously, and when he was not at school, he spent his spare time training with the soldiers at the Masundwini military barracks near Etjeni royal residence.
Regency
When his father died of pneumonia in 1982, the royal council chose the 14-year-old prince Makhosetwe to be the next king. For the next four years two female relatives served as regent, Queen Dzeliwe Shongwe (1982-1983) and Queen Ntombi Thwala (1983-1986) while he continued with his education, attending the English Sherborne School.
King
He was introduced as crown prince in September 1983 and was crowned king on April 25, 1986 (aged 18 years and 6 days, the youngest king ever). The king and his mother, whose title is Ndlovukazi (Great She-Elephant), rule jointly.
Today he is Africa's last absolute monarch. He rules by decree, and is strongly opposed to democratisation of his country, though he did restore the nation's parliament, which had been dissolved by his father.
Mswati's rule has been criticised for ignoring the growing problems of his subjects while lavishly spending his nation's wealth on his own personal comfort, including buying a fleet of royal limousines, a luxury jet that cost a quarter of the nation's annual budget, and building and renovating palaces to house his many wives. He has also restricted civil and media freedom of speech in the past.
Succession
In Swaziland no king can appoint his successor. Only the royal family decides which of the wives shall be "Great wife" and "Indlovukazi" (She-Elephant / Queen Mother). The son of this "Great Wife" will automatically become the next king.
The "Great Wife" must only have one son, be of good character and come from a 'good' family. She must not bear the maiden name of Nkhosi-Dlamini and she must not be a ritual wife (i.e. the eldest son is never the heir).
The King currently has eleven wives and three official fiancées — those who have not yet borne him a child. A Swazi king's first two wives are chosen for him by the national councillors. These two have special functions in rituals and their sons can never claim kingship. The first wife must be a member of the Matsebula clan, the second of the Motsa clan. According to tradition, he can only marry his fiancées after they have fallen pregnant, proving they can bear heirs. Until then, they are liphovela. In 2002 it was alleged he caused Zena Mahlangua to be kidnapped to become his tenth wife, but no charges were pressed against him in his own courts.
Wives
His wives are:
- Inkhosikati LaMatsebula—Has a degree in education.
- Inkhosikati LaMotsa
- Inkhosikati LaNganganza
- 1986 Inkhosikati LaMbikiza—(born 16 June 1969 Simbonelo Mngomezulu) Daughter of Percy Mngomezulu); an advocate, received her degree from UNISA. LaMbikiza is the head of the Swazi Royal Initiative to Combat Aids (Rica). The initiative involves the recording of songs by Swazi, South African and international artists and the proceeds of the sales are allocated to programmes aimed at helping people affected by Aids.
- Putsoana Hwala—(born 1974 ??) Known as Inkhosikati LaHwala Has since left the king.
- Delisa Magwaza—(born 1974 ??) Known as Inkhosikati LaMagwaza. Has since left the king.
- August 2000 Inkhosikati LaMasango—(born 1981 ?? Sentengi Masango)
- May 2002 Inkhosikati LaGija—(born Angel Dlamini)
- June 2002 Inkhosikati LaMagongo—(born Notsetselo Magongo) Niece of Chief Mlobokazana Fakudze, Chief at Mgazini.
- November 2002 Inkhosikati LaMahlangu—(born 1984 Zena Soraya Mahlangu) 18-year-old High School student Zena Mahlangu disappeared from her school on 9 October 2002. Her mother, Lindiwe Dlamini, learnt that her daughter had been taken by two men, Qethuka Sgombeni Dlamini and Tulujani Sikhondze, and reported the matter to the police. She was told her that her daughter was at the Royal Palace at Ludzidzini and had been "assigned Royal duties".[1] (http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAFR550042004?open&of=ENG-SWZ) She demanded that her daughter be returned to her custody, and threatened to sue. The matter went to the High Court, but Swaziland Attorney-General Phesheya Dlamini intervened.[2] (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/11/04/world/main528049.shtml) Mahlangu was announced as engaged to King Mswati in November, and she stayed at the Royal Palace; there has been no contact between her and her mother. She was officially made King Mswati's bride in a traditional marriage ceremony in May 2004.
- May 2005 Inkhosikati LaNtentesa (born 1981 Noliqhwa Ayanda Ntentesa, betrothed November 2002, married in a traditional function held at Ludzidzini Royal Residence May 26 2005)
- August 2004 Inkhosikati La Dube (born Nothando Dube) a Miss Teenage Swaziland finalist at age 16, chosen at the Umhlanga (Reed Dance) ceremony on August 30, 2004 while she was a grade 9 pupil at Mater Dorolosa High School. Married 11 June 2005.
Fiancées
- September 2003 Nomonde Fihla at age 18.
- January 2005 Colile Nosiphe Magagula (Titi) [3] (http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/News/0,,2-11-1447_1655371,00.html) at age 17.
Reed Dance
The annual Umhlanga Reed Dance is an assembly of about 20,000 bare-breasted young maidens who bring a tall (4 metre) reed to present to the king. Traditionally it is a time when the king can choose another wife.
| Preceded by: Queen Ntombi (Queen Regent) | King of Swaziland 1986–present | Succeeded by: — External links
fr:Mswati III du Swaziland gl:Mswati III de Suacilandia ja:ムスワティ3世 nl:Mswati III |