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Mswati III8th King of Eswatini since 25 April 1986
Date of Birth: 19.04.1968
Country:  South Africa |
Content:
- King Mswati III
- Coronation and Reign
- Constitutional Amendments
- Protests and Unrest
- Name Change and Protests
- Personal Life
- HIV/AIDS and Virginity Pledge
- Wealth
- Acquisition of Aircraft
King Mswati III
Early Life and RegencyMswati III is the eighth Ngwenyama (King) of Eswatini, reigning since April 25, 1986. Upon the passing of his father, King Sobhuza II, in 1982, he was selected as heir apparent by the royal council. His regents until his completion of education in the United Kingdom at Sherborne School were Queen Dzeliwe Shongwe (August 21, 1982 – August 9, 1983), Prince Sozisa Dlamini (August 9-18, 1983, "Indlovukazi"), and his mother, Queen Ntombi (August 18, 1983 – April 25, 1986).
Coronation and Reign
In September 1983, Mswati III became Crown Prince and was officially crowned on April 25, 1986. He is the last absolute monarch in Africa, although he reinstated the parliament that had been canceled by his father. However, there are no political parties in Eswatini due to the chaos the multi-party system had previously caused.
Constitutional Amendments
From 2001 to 2004, the king commissioned the drafting of a new constitution, which was presented to parliament in November 2004. It was signed into law by the king on July 26, 2005, and took effect on February 8, 2006.
Protests and Unrest
In April 2011, thousands of opposition supporters protested, demanding the abdication of King Mswati III. They accused him of looting the national treasury to fund his and his 13 wives' lavish lifestyles. On April 12, police forcibly dispersed a rally in the capital, Mbabane, arresting 13 organizers.
Name Change and Protests
On April 19, 2018, King Mswati III renamed the country the Kingdom of Eswatini. In June 2021, protests sparked by a government ban on demonstrations escalated into riots. Protesters burned and looted shops. According to the pro-democracy organization Swaziland Solidarity Network, at least 40 people were killed in the crackdown, with the majority "shot dead for simply violating the curfew." King Mswati III was reported to have fled the country, which was denied by Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku.
Personal Life
King Mswati III has 36 children from 15 wives. His eldest daughter, Sikhanyiso Dlamini (born 1987), has served as Swaziland's Minister of Information and Communication Technology since 2018. His marriage to his eighth wife and the alleged abduction of his tenth wife have generated significant controversy.
HIV/AIDS and Virginity Pledge
In response to the escalating HIV/AIDS crisis, King Mswati III revived a traditional chastity custom, introducing a ban on sex for girls under 21 in 2001. Anyone found to have breached the virginity rule would be fined one cow or the equivalent of $152. King Mswati III himself paid the cow fine shortly after introducing this ban when he selected a teenage girl as his eighth wife. The law was to remain in effect for five years, but the king repealed it a year early, facing mixed reactions from the Swazi population. In 2011, King Mswati III divorced one of his wives (Ntando Dube) after she had an affair with Swazi Justice Minister Nduduzi Mamba. Queen Dube was placed under house arrest from 2010, and Mamba was fired and charged after the scandal and the release of compromising photographs.
Wealth
King Mswati III is the wealthiest person in the country (estimated net worth $200 million) and controls the Tibiyo Taka Ngwane Fund, a quasi-sovereign wealth fund that all Swazis are required to contribute to and which is directly controlled by the king. While not formally owned by the king, the fund has been placed at his disposal. The fund's special status has granted it privileged treatment by the Swazi government.
Acquisition of Aircraft
On April 12, 2018, King Mswati III purchased an Airbus A340 aircraft, registration number 3DC-SDF.
