Mswati III

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.

As king, Mswati III is the top leader of the army and police. In 2018, he changed the country’s name from Swaziland to Eswatini.

Mswati III lives a very rich life, which is very different from the lives of many people in Eswatini. 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. He was the youngest reigning monarch in the world at that time. He inherited an absolute monarchy from his father.

Mswati III is the last absolute monarch in Africa. He can choose the prime minister and other important leaders, but he must seek advice from the queen mother and a council. In 2005, he introduced a new constitution that allowed more freedoms. 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 helps choose the next ruler.

Controversies

Mswati III has been king since 1986. During his time, some changes happened, but some people think these changes mainly help keep royal power strong.

There are concerns about how Mswati rules. Some groups say 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 has many important honors from Eswatini. He became the Grand Master of the Royal Order of King Sobhuza II in 1986. In 2002, he received several titles, including Grand Master of the Royal Order of the Great She-Elephant. 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.