Swaziland
Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted 1968. Student and labor unrest during the 1990s have pressured the monarchy (one of the oldest on the continent) to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy. King Mswati III rules by decree over his million subjects who live mainly in rural areas and maintain traditional ways of life. Swaziland's political stability, especially relative to regional competitors, has long been a major feature of the country's attractive business climate.
King Mswati has shown no enthusiasm for sharing power, but banned opposition parties and trade unions have persistently pressed demands for greater democracy and limits on the king's power. A long-awaited constitution, signed by the king in 2005, cemented his rule and maintained a ban on political parties. Supporters of the monarchy argue that democracy fosters division, and that a monarch is a strong unifying force. Swaziland is virtually homogenous, as most of the Swazis are from the same tribe. Economically, the country is heavily dependent on South Africa, which receives almost half of Swazi exports and supplies nine-tenths of its imports. HIV/Aids is a grave problem, with more than 40% of the population believed infected. Life expectancy has plummeted as a result. Many Swazis live in chronic poverty and food shortages are widespread.
While there are currently no known threats to expatriate personnel traveling to or residing in Swaziland, occasional labor-related violence does occur and in the late 1990's several bomb attacks took place near government buildings. A previously unknown domestic group claimed the attacks.
The potential for violence exists when labor actions are in progress, especially in the streets of Mbabane and in the largest city, Manzini, as well as in the sugar and wood pulp belts. While political unrest seems unlikely to destabilize Swazi society in the near future, continued unresponsiveness from government and the crown will exacerbate these tensions, creating a more unpredictable environment for business.
Nevertheless, the monarchy is facing a rising tide of protests amid signs that the country is tiring of always giving the king his way. In late 2002, the 34-year-old Mswati tried to buy a multi-million dollar jet while his people starved, and ordered a young girl abducted to be his 10th wife. In December 2002, top judges resigned en masse and the High Court went on strike.
While the King has publicly committed himself to constitutional reform, such progress has been minimal and slow. At the same time, trade unions and the business sector are united in seeking to develop modern legislation as a framework for business/labor cooperation in building a modern economy. Government seems slower in accepting the societal role of trade unions.
