Mswati III

Mswati III, born Makhosetive Dlamini on 19 April 1968, is the Ngwenyama (King) of Eswatini and head of the Swazi royal family. He has been the king since 1986 and rules as an absolute monarchy, meaning he has complete control over the government and cannot be challenged by law.

As king, Mswati III is the top leader of the army and police, and he strongly influences local leaders. People who speak out against the government can face serious trouble. In 2018, he changed the country’s name from Swaziland to Eswatini. Since 2021, people who have protested for more democratic rights have faced violence and arrest.

Mswati III lives a very rich and fancy life, which looks very different from the lives of many people in Eswatini. In 2022, about 32% of people in the country were living in poverty, meaning they did not have enough money for basic needs. The government, which is controlled by the king, decides what news people see on television and other media outlets.

Early life

Mswati III was born Makhosetive Dlamini on 19 April 1968 in Manzini. He was the son of Sobhuza II, who had many wives, and Ntfombi.

When his father, King Sobhuza II, passed away in 1982, leaders chose Makhosetive, who was only 14 years old, to become the next king.

Reign

Mswati became king on 25 April 1986, just six days after turning 18, making him the youngest reigning monarch in the world at that time. He inherited an absolute monarchy from his father, who had ruled without any political parties since 1973.

Mswati III is the last absolute monarch in Africa. He has the power to choose the prime minister and other important leaders, though he must seek advice from the queen mother and a council. In 2001, he encouraged young people to pause relationships for five years to help with health issues, though he later chose a young partner himself. In 2005, he introduced a new constitution that allowed more freedoms, though these were sometimes limited in practice. In 2018, he changed the country’s name from Swaziland to Eswatini to honor its history.

Family and succession

See also: Succession to the Swazi throne

Mswati III has many wives and children. The first two wives were chosen for him by special leaders. There are special rules about who becomes the next king. In Eswatini, a king’s mother plays an important role in choosing the next ruler.

Controversies

Mswati III has been in charge since 1986, and while some changes happened during his time, some people think these changes only help keep the royal power strong.

There have been many concerns about how Mswati rules. Some groups say that his government does not treat everyone fairly and has taken away important rights from people. There have also been reports about unfair treatment of certain groups and heavy control over what people can say or do.

Mswati has also been criticized for spending a lot of money on himself while many people in his country live in poverty. Reports say he has spent large amounts of money on fancy cars and big houses, even when many people need help. Some people have protested against this, asking for money to be spent on important things instead.

Wealth

LaMahlangu controversy

There was a situation involving an 18-year-old girl named Zena Mahlangu. She was taken from her school and was said to be prepared to become one of the king's wives. However, there were questions about whether this was right, and the matter went to court.

Honours

National

Mswati III holds several important honors from Eswatini. He became the Grand Master of the Royal Order of King Sobhuza II in 1986. In 2002, he received the titles of Grand Master of the Royal Order of the Great She-Elephant, the Royal Order of the Crown, the Royal Family Order of Mswati III, and the Military Order of Swaziland. In 2018, he became the Grand Master of the Order of the Elephant.

Foreign

Mswati III also has honors from other countries. In 1991, he was made a Knight of the Venerable Order of St John in the United Kingdom. In 1995, he became a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Good Hope in South Africa.