British South Africa
SWAZILAND
COLONIAL SWAZILAND
The Kingdom of Swaziland rose to power in the early 1800s under King Sobhuza I. The King enlarged the territory by conquering non-Nguni people. Sobhuza I drove out many Sotho groups and avoided a majority of the mfecane through diplomacy. Under King Mswati, Swaziland remained independent until the 1890s due to the nation’s internal stability, military strength, and acts of diplomacy.
Contact with Europeans began as early as the 1840s when the Trekboers, individuals of Dutch descent, reached Swazi lands. In 1887, Britain annexed the kingdom, however the Swaziland Convention of 1881 ensured the nations independence. The nation remained independent until around 1894. Following the Second Anglo Boer War it became a protectorate of the Transvaal Colony. In 1906, Swaziland became a High Commission Territory and was placed under the leadership of a British Commissioner.
Under the Crown Lands Order and Concession Partition Proclamation of 1907 around two-thirds of Swaziland land was taken by settlers. The land was sold to European and African famers. This resulted in widespread tenant farming and issues with child labor. King Sobhuza II, being determined to restore the customs and traditions of his people, worked to restore the land to his people.
INDEPENDENCE
Swaziland remained under peaceful British rule for roughly 66 years. In 1963, a form of self-government, although limited, was granted. With the start of the 1960s, Swaziland began to seek out independence.
In 1961 two different constitutions were proposed. One constitution, proposed by the white settlers and tribal hierarchy, was in favor of a strong monarchy. In return for the white settlers supporting of this constitution, they were insured half of the seats of the Legislative Council. The second constitution, proposed by the African nationalist parties sought out a weak monarchy and adult suffrage independent of race.
The colonial office demanded compromise, after its reviewing of the constitutions, and King Sobhuza II, as a compromise, made his own political party and swept the election of 1964.
In 1968, on the 6th of September, official Independence was granted. Soon after official independence, Swaziland joined the Commonwealth. The country was headed by King Sobhuza II, but also administered by a Cabinet and Prime Minister who were selected by the Parliament.
After King’s party swept the election, electoral districts were created. This made it so that winning a parliamentary seat for those not in the King’s party would be next to impossible. In April of 1973, King Sobhuza was able to repeal the constitution of 1968 and assume all government powers. He felt that it was not an accurate reflection of the Swazi way of life or what the people wanted. As an absolute monarch, King Sobhuza II dissolved parliament and banned all political parties, claiming it would be a restoration of Swazi life. In 1979, King Sobhuza II created a new parliament.
After the King’s death, his son King Mswati III returned from his schooling in England and assumed power after a four year delay. King Mswati III also dissolved parliament after assuming rule. In the mid-1980s there was a desire to return to multiparty democracy and in 1993 universal adult suffrage was reintroduced into the nation. To this day, Swaziland remains as one of the last absolute monarchies in the world. However, due to this repealing of the constitution and dissolving of parliament, the nation does not have an official constitution.
Amar Karahodzic
TIMELINE
1800s - Swaziland become a territory under under King Sobhuza I
1840s - Contact with European Trekboers
1894 - following the Second Anglo-Boer War, Swailand becomes a protectorate of the Transvaal Colony
1906 - Swaziland becomes a High Commission Territory and is placed under the leadership of a British Commissioner
1907 - Under the Crown Lands Order and Concession Partition Proclamation of 1907 around two-thirds of Swaziland land is taken by settlers
1960s - Swaziland seeks independence and created separate constitutions for separate groups
1963 - Limited self-government is allowed
1964 - King Sobhuza II created his own party and they sweep the election
1968 - Official independence is granted
1973 - King Sobhuza II repeals the constitution and becomes the absolute monarch, dissolving political parties and parliament
1979 - King Sobhuza II creates a new parliament
1993- Universal adult suffrage returns
King Mswati III
