History of Eswatini in Timeline
"Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered by Mozambique and South Africa. It is one of Africa's smallest countries, with diverse geography ranging from cool, mountainous highveld to hot, dry lowveld.
1902: End of Swaziland's Involvement in the Second Boer War
Swaziland's indirect involvement in the Second Boer War, marked by skirmishes between the British and Boers, came to an end in 1902.
1903: Establishment of British High Commission Territory
Following the British victory in the Second Boer War, Swaziland became a British high commission territory in 1903.
1904: Establishment of the Swaziland Administration Proclamation
The Swaziland Administration Proclamation was established in 1904 to examine and define the boundaries of concessions.
1906: Transvaal Colony Self-Government and Impact on Swaziland's Administration
With the Transvaal Colony gaining self-government in 1906, much of Swaziland's early administration, including postal services, shifted from South Africa.
1907: Completion of Concessions Examination and Boundary Definition
By 1907, the commission tasked with examining concessions and defining their boundaries completed its work.
1910: Appointment of Concessions Partition Commissioner and Land Allocation
A concessions partition commissioner was appointed in 1910 to allocate land for the exclusive use and occupation of the Swazi people.
December 1921: Coronation of Sobhuza II
Sobhuza II was officially crowned king in December 1921 after a period of regency under Labotsibeni.
1922: Sobhuza II's Deputation to the Privy Council
Following his coronation, Sobhuza II led a deputation to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London in 1922 to address the land issue.
1923: Establishment of Swazi Commercial Amadoda
Sobhuza II established the Swazi Commercial Amadoda in 1923 to grant licenses to small businesses operating within the Swazi reserves.
November 1963: Promulgation of Swaziland's Constitution by Britain
Britain promulgated a constitution for an independent Swaziland in November 1963, establishing a Legislative Council and Executive Council.
1963: Establishment of Swazi National School
In 1963, the Swazi National School was founded to counteract the dominance of missions in the education system.
1963: Founding of Waterford School
Waterford School, later renamed Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa, was established in 1963 as the first multiracial school in southern Africa.
September 1964: Formation of the First Legislative Council
Despite opposition from the Swazi National Council, elections were held, leading to the formation of Swaziland's first Legislative Council on 9 September 1964.
1967: Elections Held Under the New Constitution
Elections were held in 1967 under a new constitution that provided for a House of Assembly and Senate.
September 1968: Independence of Swaziland
After being a British high commission territory since 1903, Swaziland regained full independence in September 1968.
September 1968: Swaziland adopts a Westminster-style constitution
Upon gaining independence on September 6, 1968, Swaziland implemented a Westminster-style constitution.
1968: Swaziland's Transition from Protected State to Independence
Following the 1967 elections, Swaziland transitioned from a protected state to full independence in 1968.
1972: First Participation in Summer Olympics
Eswatini participated in the Summer Olympics for the first time in 1972.
1972: Suspension of the Constitution and King Sobhuza II's Rule by Decree
King Sobhuza II suspended Swaziland's constitution following the 1972 elections and governed the country by decree until his death in 1982.
1972: Establishment of Mananga Management Centre
The Mananga Management Centre, originally the Mananga Agricultural Management Centre, was founded in Ezulwini in 1972 to provide international management development training for middle and senior managers.
April 1973: King Sobhuza II assumes supreme power
On April 12, 1973, King Sobhuza II nullified the constitution and assumed absolute power over all government branches.
1978: First non-party elections held
The first non-partisan elections for the House of Assembly in Eswatini took place in 1978, conducted under the tinkhundla system, with electoral districts defined by the King.
1981: Waterford Kamhlaba Joins United World Colleges
In 1981, Waterford Kamhlaba became part of the United World Colleges movement, marking it as the first in Africa and the only one until 1919.
1982: Proposed Transfer of South African Territory to Swaziland
An attempt to transfer parts of KwaZulu and KaNgwane from South Africa to Swaziland in 1982, aimed at giving landlocked Swaziland access to the sea, was unsuccessful due to popular opposition.
1982: Death of King Sobhuza II
King Sobhuza II of Eswatini passed away in 1982.
1982: Establishment of the University of Eswatini
The University of Eswatini, the national university, was founded in 1982 by an act of Parliament and is located in Kwaluseni, with other campuses in Mbabane and Luyengo.
1984: Replacement of Queen Regent Dzeliwe Shongwe
Queen Regent Dzeliwe Shongwe, who served as head of state after Sobhuza II's death, was removed by the Liqoqo in 1984 and replaced by Queen Mother Ntfombi Tfwala.
1986: King Mswati III ascends to the throne
Following a period of regency after his father's death, King Mswati III became the king of Eswatini in 1986.
1986: Coronation of King Mswati III
King Mswati III ascended to the throne in 1986, becoming the reigning monarch of Swaziland.
1989: Tourism Peak During Apartheid
Eswatini's tourism reached a peak in 1989, with 257,997 visitors, driven by attractions and policies that differed from South Africa during the apartheid era.
1993: Pre-1993 election practices
Before the 1993 election, voting in Eswatini was not secret, voters were not registered, and they did not choose their representatives directly.
July 1996: Constitutional review commission appointed
In July 1996, King Mswati III formed a constitutional review commission to gather public input and propose a new constitution for Eswatini.
1996: Primary Education Enrollment and Gender Parity
In 1996, Eswatini achieved a net primary school enrollment rate of 90.8%, with equal participation from both boys and girls.
1998: Progression to Grade Five
By 1998, 80.5% of children in Eswatini successfully reached the fifth grade.
May 1999: First draft of constitution released
The initial draft of the new constitution for Eswatini was made available for public comment in May 1999.
November 2000: Second draft of constitution released
A revised draft of the Eswatini constitution was issued for public review in November 2000.
December 2001: Team formed to draft a new constitution
A 15-member team, with some reported to be close to the royal family, was appointed in December 2001 to draft a new constitution.
2001: Economic Challenges and Slow Growth
Since 2001, Eswatini's real GDP growth averaged 2.8%, significantly lower than other Southern African Customs Union countries. Factors like low agricultural productivity, droughts, HIV/AIDS, and government inefficiency contributed to this.
2003: Establishment of Eswatini Tourism Board
The Eswatini Tourism Board was founded in 2003 to focus on promoting the country's cultural heritage, including royal celebrations and game parks, as a way to attract tourists.
2005: End of "Umchwasho" Custom
Eswatini observed the "umchwasho" tradition until 2005, where young girls were grouped into an age-regiment, and pregnancy outside marriage resulted in a fine for their families.
2005: Introduction of the Current Swazi Constitution
Following a period of student and labor protests in the 1990s calling for reforms, Swaziland introduced its current constitution in 2005.
2005: Establishment of the Modern Judicial System
In 2005, Eswatini's constitution established a Western-based court system, including regional Magistrates Courts, a High Court, and a Supreme Court. This system operates independently of the monarchy.
2005: Adoption of the Constitution
Swaziland adopted its constitution in 2005.
2006: Joining the Lubombo Route
Eswatini, South Africa, and Mozambique implemented the Lubombo Route agreement in 2006, allowing tourists to travel between these countries using a single visa, promoting regional tourism.
2008: First Election Under the New Constitution
The first election under the newly introduced constitution took place in 2008.
2010: Formation of Southern African Nazarene University
The Southern African Nazarene University in Manzini was created in 2010 through the consolidation of the Nazarene College of Nursing, College of Theology, and Nazarene Teachers College.
2011: Economic Crisis in Swaziland
Swaziland experienced an economic crisis in 2011 due to reduced receipts from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The government's request for a loan from South Africa was met with conditions for political reforms, which they did not agree to.
July 2012: Appointment of Africa's First Female Bishop
In July 2012, Ellinah Wamukoya was elected as the Anglican Bishop of Swaziland, becoming the first female bishop in Africa. She served in this role until her passing in 2021.
2012: New University and Campus Opening
Eswatini Medical Christian University, specializing in medical education, was founded in Mbabane in 2012 as Eswatini's newest university. The same year, a Limkokwing University campus was opened in Sidvwashini, Mbabane.
2012: Improvement in SACU Receipts Eases Fiscal Pressure
Improved receipts from the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) in 2012 provided relief from the fiscal strain on the Swazi government.
2013: Election of a New Parliament and Reappointment of Prime Minister
A new parliament was elected in 2013, marking the second since the implementation of the constitution. Following the election, the king reappointed Sibusiso Dlamini as prime minister for a third term.
2013: Religious Diversity in Eswatini
By 2013, Eswatini had a small Jewish community consisting of 14 families.
2013: End of Term for Members of Parliament
The five-year terms of the Members of Parliament (MPs) elected in 2008 came to an end in 2013.
2014: Strengthening the National Protected Areas System (SNPAS) project begins
Eswatini participated in the "Strengthening the National Protected Areas System" (SNPAS) project from 2014 to 2021, aiming to improve conservation efforts across the country.
2015: Drought impacts Eswatini's economy
The drought of 2015-2016 negatively affected Eswatini's economy, particularly its main exports of sugar and soft drink concentrate.
April 2018: Kingdom of Swaziland renamed to Kingdom of Eswatini
In April 2018, King Mswati III announced that the Kingdom of Swaziland would be renamed to the Kingdom of Eswatini to mark 50 years of Swazi independence. The name change was partly to avoid confusion with Switzerland.
April 2018: Name Change to Kingdom of Eswatini
In April 2018, the official name of the country was changed from the Kingdom of Swaziland to the Kingdom of Eswatini. This change reflected the name commonly used in the Swazi language.
September 2018: Anti-government protests begin
In September 2018, Eswatini workers initiated anti-government protests due to low wages, leading to a three-day strike that caused significant disruption.
2018: Low Life Expectancy in Eswatini
By 2018, Eswatini had the 12th-lowest life expectancy globally, at 58 years.
2018: Eswatini's Forest Landscape Integrity Index
In 2018, Eswatini received a mean score of 4.21 out of 10 on the Forest Landscape Integrity Index, placing it 142nd globally.
2018: UNDP establishes a new category for conservation areas
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) introduced a new category in 2018 for informal conservation areas, referred to as OECMs (Other Effective Conservation Measures), to broaden conservation support.
2019: High HIV Prevalence Rate
In 2019, Eswatini had the world's highest prevalence of HIV among people aged 15 to 49, at 27.1%.
June 2021: Pro-democracy protests erupt
In June 2021, Eswatini experienced widespread pro-democracy protests and riots in response to years of dissatisfaction with the lack of progress towards democracy and alleged government restrictions on petitions. Protesters targeted properties associated with King Mswati III.
2021: Death of Bishop Ellinah Wamukoya
Bishop Ellinah Wamukoya, the first female bishop in Africa, passed away in 2021.
2021: Eswatini starts certifying informal conservation areas
In 2021, Eswatini adopted the OECM terminology and initiated the certification of informal conservation areas as part of the SNPAS project.
2022: Eswatini's Vision 2022 and climate change
By 2022, the Eswatini government expressed concerns about climate change worsening existing social issues such as poverty and food insecurity, potentially hindering the country's development goals outlined in Vision 2022.
September 2023: Most recent elections held in Eswatini
Eswatini held its latest elections on September 29, 2023.
2023: Eswatini's low ranking in democracy indices
The 2023 V-Dem Democracy indices ranked Eswatini very low globally in terms of democracy, placing it among the least democratic countries in the world.
