Mswati III (born Makhosetive Dlamini; 19 April 1968) is the Ngwenyama (King) of Eswatini and head of the Swazi royal family since 1986. He is the head of an absolute monarchy, holding executive authority over all branches of government and constitutionally immune from prosecution. Along with his mother Queen Ntfombi, Mswati is the last remaining absolute monarch in Africa and one of twelve remaining absolute monarchs worldwide.

Under the constitution, the king is commander-in-chief of the defence force and commissioner-in-chief of police and correctional services, and exercises influence over local government through traditional chiefs. In 2018, Mswati promulgated a decree renaming the country from Swaziland to Eswatini, restoring its pre-colonial name. Political activism and dissent are regulated under laws including those against sedition. Protests calling for political reform from 2021 onwards were dispersed and a number of activists were arrested.

Eswatini faces significant economic challenges: in 2022, an estimated 32% of the population lived below the US$2.15/day international poverty line (measured by purchasing power parity in 2017) while 55% fell below the lower-middle-income country threshold of $3.65/day. The government exercises influence over state broadcast media, while a growing number of independent online outlets operate in the country.

Early life

Mswati III was born Makhosetive Dlamini on 19 April 1968 at Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital, Manzini, as the son of Sobhuza II (who had 70 wives during his life of 82 years) and Ntfombi.

When King Sobhuza II died on 21 August 1982, the Great Council of State (the Liqoqo) selected the 14-year-old prince Makhosetive to be the next king.

Reign

thumb|Mswati and [[Sibonelo Mngometulu with US President Barack Obama on 5 August 2014]]

Mswati was introduced as crown prince in September 1983 and was crowned king on 25 April 1986, six days after turning 18, making him the youngest reigning monarch in the world at the time. He inherited an absolute monarchy from his father, who had ruled by decree since 1973 and banned all political parties.

Mswati III is Africa's last absolute monarch in the sense that he has the power to choose the prime minister, other top government posts and top traditional posts. Despite his role in appointing such positions, Mswati is still required to get special advice from the queen mother and council when choosing positions such as prime minister; similarly, in matters of cabinet appointments, Mswati is advised by the prime minister. Mswati ruled by decree, but he chose to restore the nation's Parliament, which had been dissolved by his father in order to ensure concentration of power remained with the king. Parliamentarians are appointed either by Mswati himself (two-thirds of the senators and ten deputies) or elected by traditional chiefs close to power. Close to the evangelical churches, he banned divorce and the wearing of miniskirts.

In an attempt to mitigate the HIV/AIDS pandemic in 2001, the king used his traditional powers to invoke a time-honoured chastity rite (umcwasho) under the patronage of a princess, which encouraged all Swazi maidens to abstain from sexual relations for five years. This was last done under Sobhuza II in 1971. This rite banned sexual relations for Swazis under 18 years of age from 9 September 2001 to 19 August 2005. However, two months after imposing the ban, Mswati violated the decree by choosing a 17-year-old liphovela (royal fiancée) as one of his wives.

In 2005, Mswati promulgated a new constitution, ending the state of emergency that had been in force since 1973. The name change coincided with his 50th birthday. Eswatini is the ancient, original name for the country, chosen as a departure from its colonial past.

thumb|Mswati and [[Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen in Eswatini on 17 April 2018]]

Mswati has visited Taiwan seventeen times as of June 2018, and has pledged to continue recognizing Taiwan instead of the People's Republic of China.

Eswatini is predominantly rural and is one of the poorest countries in the world (63% of its population lives below the poverty line). An economic circle of 15,000 businessmen and politicians controls most of the country's wealth. This circle includes South African investors who have come to Eswatini to find labour at one-third the cost and a group of white businessmen who are heirs to the British settlers.

In June 2021, a series of protests broke out against authoritarianism and the suppression of opposition. The Communist Party of Swaziland alleged he had fled to South Africa on the night of 28–29 June, whereas the Swaziland Solidarity Network claimed he fled to Mozambique. Both of these claims were denied by acting prime minister Themba Nhlanganiso Masuku.

Ruby Jubilee (2026)

On 25 April 2026, King Mswati III marked 40 years on the throne, his Ruby Jubilee, at a ceremony held at Somhlolo National Stadium in Lobamba, attended by foreign heads of state. Lesotho's King Letsie III led tributes on behalf of visiting dignitaries, describing the 40-year reign as a testament to selfless leadership and devotion to the Swazi people, and commending Mswati for guiding the kingdom through complex political, social and economic challenges over four decades.

In his address, the King cited substantial national development over four decades, stating that Eswatini's GDP had grown from approximately 1.4 billion emalangeni at the time of his coronation to over 95 billion emalangeni, with manufacturing accounting for roughly 40 percent of GDP across key industries including agro-processing, textiles, sugar production and forestry. The road network expanded from about 500 kilometres in 1986 to over 2,000 kilometres. Major infrastructure projects completed during the reign include King Mswati III International Airport, the Royal Science and Technology Park, the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre, and the Ezulwini Palazzo International Convention Centre, which was officially opened on 26 April 2026. The King also cited empowerment programmes including the Regional Development Fund, which had disbursed over 1.4 billion emalangeni in non-refundable grants, and FINCORP, which had extended more than 10 billion emalangeni in loans to entrepreneurs and farmers. Life expectancy in Eswatini rose from 32 years in 1986 to 65 years in 2026 according to figures cited during the Ruby Jubilee address.

The King announced that the facility would be operated by Palazzo Hospitality, a Dubai-based luxury hospitality management company best known for managing Palazzo Versace Dubai. The ICC features modern dining halls, fully equipped conference rooms, a 200-seater meeting space and a theatre designed for productions of international standard. The King described the facility as the fulfilment of a national vision conceived in the early 2000s to develop a world-class convention and hospitality hub. Regarding the name, the King noted that Ezulwini translates as "heaven" in siSwati and carries deep historical and spiritual significance, and that the area is associated with the Ezulwini Consensus, a position recognised within United Nations reform discussions. The hotel component of the complex was still under construction at the time of opening, with the convention centre opened first to begin generating revenue immediately. The visit followed a diplomatic standoff in which China pressured several African countries, including Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar, to revoke airspace permits for Lai's aircraft, forcing the cancellation of an earlier trip that had been scheduled for 22 to 26 April 2026 to coincide with the King's Ruby Jubilee celebrations. The trip was rescheduled after what Lai described as careful arrangements by diplomatic and national security teams. The first two wives were chosen for him by national councillors. There are complex rules on succession. Traditionally the king is chosen through his mother as represented in the Swazi saying Inkhosi, yinkhosi ngenina, meaning "a king is king through his mother".

Controversies

Mswati's reign has brought some changes in the government and political transformation. However, critics such as the People's United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) believe that these changes are solely aimed at strengthening and perpetuating the traditional order. His attendance at the May 2012 Sovereign Monarchs lunch, to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, caused some controversy, given criticisms of his regime's human rights record.

Mswati's reign has been criticized for several alleged human rights violations. His regime has been accused of using torture and excessive force to control the masses, as well as blatant discrimination against various dissenting groups. His regime has been accused of extrajudicial killings by his forces, along with arbitrary arrests, detentions, and unwarranted searches and seizures of homes and property. His government has restricted freedom of speech, assembly and association, and has harassed activists and journalists. The government has reportedly targeted the LGBT community, labour leaders, and activists against child labour, among other groups. The courts took little or no action to punish Mswati's actions or the officials who committed the abuses.

Mswati has been accused of kidnapping women he desires to marry. In addition, in 2000 he allegedly called for a parliamentary meeting to debate if HIV-positive people should be "sterilized and branded". In the 2014 national budget, parliament allocated US$61 million for the King's annual household budget, while 63% of Swazis live on less than US$1.25 per day. Mswati banned photography of his automobiles after he was criticized for purchasing luxury cars, such as a $500,000 DaimlerChrysler Maybach 62. According to the Forbes 2009 list of the World's 15 Richest Royals, King Mswati is worth a reported US$200 million. In January 2004 the Times of Swaziland reported that the king asked his government to spend about $15-million to redecorate three main palaces and build others for each of his thirteen wives. The Prime Minister's Office issued a press statement saying the article in the Times of Swaziland was "reckless and untrue" and that the proposal was for the construction of 5 State Houses, not Palaces, and the cost was only €19.9 million. Later that year the go-ahead was given to build five new buildings at a cost of more than US$4 million out of public funds. In August 2008, hundreds of Swazi women marched through the capital to protest the cost of a shopping spree taken abroad by nine of the King's thirteen wives. The demonstration was organised by Positive Living, a non-governmental organisation for Swazi women with AIDS, and protesters submitted a petition to the finance minister arguing that the money should have been differently spent.

LaMahlangu controversy

According to accusations by Amnesty International, Zena Mahlangu, an 18-year-old high school student, disappeared from her school in October 2002. Her mother, Lindiwe Dlamini, learned that her daughter had been taken by two men, Qethuka Sgombeni Dlamini and Tulujani Sikhondze, and she reported the matter to the police. Some time later, she was told that her daughter was at Ludzidzini Royal Village and was being prepared to be the next wife of the king.

Among the criteria for a liphovela (future bride) is that the girl must not be a twin; Zena Mahlangu was half of a brother-sister twin set, and therefore not eligible. The matter went to the High Court, but Swaziland's Attorney-General Phesheya Dlamini intervened.

  • Grand Master of the Royal Order of the Great She-Elephant (2002)
  • Grand Master of the Royal Order of the Crown (2002)
  • Grand Master of the Royal Family Order of Mswati III (2002)
  • Grand Master of the Military Order of Swaziland (2002)
  • Grand Master of the Order of the Elephant (2018)

Foreign

  • : Knight of the Venerable Order of St John (11 November 1991)
  • : Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Good Hope (August 1995)

See also

  • Without the King, 2007 documentary film featuring Mswati III and his daughter Princess Sikhanyiso.

References

Bibliography

  • Ginidza, Zodwa R. (1986). Umntfwana!: A Pictorial Biography of the New King of Swaziland. Swaziland: Macmillan Swaziland National Pub. Co. OCLC 16874145
  • Levin, Richard and Hugh MacMillan. (2003). "Swaziland: Recent History," in Africa South of the Sahara 2004. London: Routledge.
  • Simelane, Hamilton Sipho. (2005). "Swaziland: Reign of Mswati III," pp. 1528-1530, in Encyclopedia of African History, Kevin Shillington, ed. London: CRC Press.
  • Archived copy of "the Official Website of Swaziland Monarchy"
  • Swazi King's Birthday features
  • Swazi Royal Family Tree
  • BBC News: Troubled King Mswati
  • Swaziland king picks wife – BBC Video
  • King Mswati III's address to the 63rd session of the United Nations General Assembly, 25 September 2008
  • An Extravagant Ruler of a Modest Kingdom – New York Times Movie review
  • In Destitute Kingdom, Ruler Lives Like a King