Mswati III of Swaziland

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Mswati III (born Makhosetive on April 19, 1968) of Swaziland is the king of Swaziland, and head of the Swazi Royal Family. He succeeded his late father, Sobhuza II, in 1986.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Regency 3 King 4 Succession 5 Wives 6 Liphovela 7 Reed Dance 8 Other family 9 References 10 External links

[edit] Early life

He was the second of 67 sons of the elderly King Sobhuza II, and the only child of Ntombi Tfwala, 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 Makhosetive (King of Nations).

As a young prince, Makhosetive attended 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).

[edit] Regency

When his father died of pneumonia in 1982, the royal council chose the 14-year-old prince Makhosetive to be the next king. For the next four years two female relatives served as regent, Queen Dzeliwe Shongwe (1982–1983) and Queen Ntombi Tfwala (1983–1986) while he continued with his education, attending the English Sherborne School.

[edit] King

He was introduced as crown prince in September 1983 and was crowned king on April 25, 1986, aged 18 years and 6 days, and thus making him the youngest reigning monarch^{[citation needed]}. The king and his mother, whose title is Indovukazi (Great She-Elephant), rule jointly.

Today he is Africa's last absolute monarch. He inherited a rule by decree, but did restore the nation's parliament, which had been dissolved by his father.The country is however,slowly becoming more democratised as seen by the enactment of the Swazi constitution(2005) after a too long and drawn out constitutional drafting proccess.

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(he eventually did not buy it after his subjects complained), and building and renovating palaces to house his thirteen wives. The civil and media freedom of speech are claimed by many to be restricted but as per its own admission in conferences with other regional media houses (MISA), it is free to report as it pleases.There is still a long way to go though before it really does as it pleases as in other democratic societies. All unmarried women were in 2001 placed under the chastity rite of "umcwasho" between 9 September 2001 and 19 August 2005 in an attempt to curb the spread of HIV and AIDS. This rite (re-introduced after suggestion from NGO's), banned sexual relations for Swazis under 18 years of age, but in 2005, he violated this decree when he married a 17 year old girl, who became his 13th wife. As per custom, he was fined a cow by members of her regiment which he duly paid.

[edit] 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 and be of good character. Her character affects her child's chances of ascending to the kingship. According to Swazi culture a son can not be the heir if his mother is not of good standing. 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 Mahlangu to be kidnapped to become his tenth wife, but no charges were pressed against him in his own courts.

[edit] Wives

The king has 13 wives and 27 children.

• Inkhosikati LaMatsebula—Ritual wife. Has a degree in education.
  • Son: Prince Scalo
• Inkhosikati LaMotsa—Ritual wife. UNDP Goodwill Ambassador since 1996. ^[1]
  • Son: Prince Majaha
• 1986 Inkhosikati LaMbikiza—(born 16 June 1969 as Sibonelo Mngomezulu) Daughter of Percy Mngomezulu; an advocate, received her degree from UNISA. LaMbikiza is involved in 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.
  • Daughter: Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini (1987)
  • Son: Prince Lindaninkosi Dlamini (Lindani) (1989)
• Inkhosikati LaNgangaza —(born Carol Dlamini)
  • Daughter: Princess Temaswati Dlamini (1988)
  • Daughter: Princess Tiyandza Dlamini
  • Daughter: Princess Tebukhosi Dlamini
• Putsoana Hwala—(born 1974 ??) Known as Inkhosikati LaHwala She left the king on June 24, 2004 and moved to South Africa.^[2]
  • Son: Bandzile
  • Daughter: Sibahle
• Delisa Magwaza—(born 1974 ??) Known as Inkhosikati LaMagwaza. She also left the king in 2004, after having an affair.^[2]
  • Daughter: Temtsimba Dlamini
  • Daughter: Sakhizwe Dlamini
• August 2000 Inkhosikati LaMasango—(born 1981 ?? as Senteni Masango)
• May 2002 Inkhosikati LaGija—(born Angel Dlamini)
• June 2002 Inkhosikati LaMagongo—(born Nontsetselo Magongo) Niece of Chief Mlobokazana Fakudze, Chief at Mgazini.
  • Son: Mcwasho (2002)
• November 2002 Inkhosikati LaMahlangu—(born 1984 as 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 that her daughter was at the Royal Palace at Ludzidzini and had been "assigned Royal duties".^[3] She demanded that her daughter be returned to her custody, and threatened to sue. Zena was 18 and had agreed to be taken by the King, but remained silent. The matter went to the High Court, but Swaziland Attorney-General Phesheya Dlamini intervened.^[4] Mahlangu was announced as engaged to King Mswati in November, and she stayed at the Royal Palace. She was officially made King Mswati's bride in a traditional marriage ceremony in May 2004 and the mother officially dropped the case after it became clear that Zena had gone to the palace of her own free will and had no intention of returning home because she considered herself to be in love with the King.
  • Son: Saziwangaye (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.
• June 2005 Inkhosikati LaDube (born Nothando Dube) a Miss Teen 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.
  • Daughter: Makhosothando (2005)

[edit] Liphovela

• January 2005 Colile Nosipho Magagula (Titi) ^[5] at age 17.
• September 2005 Phindile Nkambule ^[6] at age 17.

[edit] Reed Dance

The annual Umhlanga Reed Dance is an assembly of about 20,000 young maidens who bring tall (4 metre) reeds to present to the Queen Mother. These reeds are then used to build windbreaks around the Queen Mother's residence. It is not true that the event is held in order for the King to be able to pick a wife, rather the Reed Dance is about the country's maidens paying tribute to the Queen Mother. Although the King has used the occasion to choose wives a few times, the ceremony is not about him primarily. The Reed Dance usually lasts for a week and he only attends the last day as a sign of respect to his mother. He also uses the occasion to thank the young girls who have travelled long distances to attend the event by slaughtering cows and presenting them with a feast before they return home.

[edit] Other family

Scandals connected to the Swazi royal family do not end with Mswati. In January 2006, Mswati's elder brother Prince Mbuyisa Dlamini was sent to jail for the rape of his nine-year-old niece, his sister's grandchild. ^[7]

Preceded by Queen Ntombi (Queen Regent)

King of Swaziland 1986–present

Succeeded by —

[edit] References

1. ^ UNDP Swaziland - UNDP Goodwill Ambassador HRH Inkhosikati LaMotsa
2. ^ ^{a b} Swazi queens revolt
3. ^ Amnesty International - Swaziland: Human rights at risk in a climate of political and legal uncertainty
4. ^ CBS News - Swaziland's Royal Bridal Mess
5. ^ Mswati picks 13th bride-to-be
6. ^ IOL: Mswati chooses teenage bride
7. ^ King's brother jailed for rape

[edit] External links

• Prominent People: King Mswati III
• Swazi King's Birthday features
• Swazi Royal Family Tree
• BBC News: Troubled King Mswati
• Swaziland king picks wife - BBC Video