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HM King Mswati III is the second of 67 sons of King Sobhuza II and the only son of Queen Ntombi Thwala. Born on April 19, 1968, His Majesty succeeded his late father when he was 14 years old in 1982 but was formally crowned in 1986 after he completed his study at Sherbourne School in the United Kingdom's Dorset.
In Swaziland the king must have many wives and children but no king can appoint his successor. The royal family first decides which of his wives shall be designated Great Wife. The son of this Great Wife will automatically become the next king. His Majesty has more than 200 brothers and sisters, and he is responsible for taking care of all.
His Majesty currently has 12 wives. No one among them has been appointed the Great Wife. He has two sons and seven daughters. His 12th wife, HRH Inkhosikati LaDube, born Nothando Dube, Miss Teenage Swaziland finalist at age 16, chosen at the Umhlanga (Reed Dance) ceremony on Aug 30, 2004 while she was a grade 9 pupil at Mater Dorolosa High School. She is visiting Thailand with His Majesty.
Today His Majesty is Africa's last absolute monarch. Democratisation is the people's requirement. His Majesty did restore the nation's parliament, which had been dissolved by his father.Around 39 per cent of adults in Swaziland are afflicted by HIV, and His Majesty has tried to raise funds for the more than 70,000 Aids orphans in Africa.
His Majesty visited Thailand two times in 1997 as a guest of the government and in 2002, staying in Phuket in a private capacity.
The Kingdom of Swaziland:Located in Southern Africa, between Mozambique and South Africa. The government is a monarchy. More than 80 per cent of Swazis are involved in subsistence agriculture, but the manufacturing sector has diversified since the mid-1980s.
Swaziland and Thailand established a formal relationship on Jan 17, 1991. The two countries are developing relationship in trade. Main imports from Swaziland to Thailand include wood pulp and minerals. Main imports from Thailand to Swaziland include rice, computer equipment and cement. At present a group of Thai workers is working at the Swazi Paper Mill in Matsapha Industrial Estate. |
