(a) Describe the origin of the Swazi nation.

The Swazi nation was another defensive state established in response to the Mfecane's pressure.

1.     The Swazi nation was also defensive nation that came into being during the Mfecane.     

2.     The people who formed the Swazi nation were originally known as the Ngwane.

3.     The Ngwane originally belonged to the Nkosi Diamini clan of the Nguni speaking people.

4.     As a state it was founded by sobhuza when he led his people northwards into present day Swaziland.

5.     After Zwide had defeated him, Sobhuza led his people across River Pongolo into modern Swaziland.

6.     He first had to annex the Ngoni and Sotho clans there.

7.     Later eight more clans joined Sobhuza running away from the Zulu impis.

8.     Sobhuza welcomed all the refugees and gaye them land and food.                                                   

9.     He united all the people and even ensured that their old chiefs were retained with his supervision.

10.  He organized his men into age regiments and treated all the soldiers fairly.

11.  This new strength enabled him conquer all the tribes that were disorganized by Zwide.

12.  The mountains of Swaziland gave sobhuza strong safety from the enemy.

13.  In this first quarter of the 19th century the Swazi nation further avoided war with his neighbours.

14.  Sobhuza gave cows to shaka and even married Zwides* daughter for friendship.

 

Political Organization of the Swazi State

1.       The state was dominated by Mswati who ruled from 1840-1868.

2.       But Sobhuza , Mbandazeni and Bunu were the other kings.

3.       During Sobhuza's rule political control was Loose and a form ofconfederacy existed where annexed chiefs remained with their influence and power.

4.       Sobhuza kept peace with neighbours especially Zwide and shaka.

5.       Sobhuza married Zwide's daughter and Mswati was a product of such a union.

6.       Shaka was given gifts in form of cows and girls.

7.       Swazi leadership was hereditary and Mswati succeeded his dead father in 1840 who brought many reforms.

8.       The nation was divided into chieftainships but most of the chiefs came from the Ngwane central clans and central families          .

9.       All chiefs were answerable to Mswati who appointed and fired them.

10.     There were two councils that helped the king in administration i.e. the council of elders and the larger assembly.

11.     The chiefs made up the elders council and discussed national affairs.

12.     The larger assembly was made up of all adult men and checked the chiefs and the king.

13.     The age regiments protected the Swazi but they were not permanent.

14.     There was the institution of the queen mother who was very much respected.

15.     The Queen mother was the Unofficial head of state.

16.     She had a lot of influence on the king her son.

17.     She acted as a regent when the king was young or in the king's absence.

18.     The queen mothers' parish was the capital of the Kingdom.

19.     The king had a palace in every important town of the kingdom.

20.     Socially the Swazi were tied together by clan and age regiments.

21.     It peace times young men catered for the king's cows.

22.     The King pleased the commoners by appointing regimental commanders from them.

23.     Economically the kingdom was Agro-based, producing yams, cassava and beans.

24.     Some pastoralism took place although Dingane's raids discouraged the Swazi.

25.     In peace times the kingdom traded with neighbours.

26.     Iron working took place.

27.     The king controlled all the economic activities.

 

The Relationship between Mswati and the Europeans by 1868

1.     Mswati is the one who gave the Kingdom it*s name of the Swazi and was the most influential of all the Swazi kings,

2.     Mswati was a son of Sobhuza and Zwides' daughter.

3.     He succeeded his father in 1840 and ruled until 1868.

4.     He transformed the Swazi State into a powerful one.

5.     It was Mswati who initiated political and administrative reforms.

6.     During his tenure he established contacts with Europeans especially the Boers and British.

7.     The Boers were very much interested in the Swazi fertile land.

8.     Mswati welcomed the Boers and set side some land for them.

9.     He even appointed a white chief for them.

10.  Unfortunately the Boers refused to acknowledged Mswati rule over them or even get assimilated into Swazi culture.

11.  Mswati went a head and convinced his people to allow the Boers graze their animals in their country. .

12.  In 1864 the Boers made an alliance with the Swazi to defeat the Poko who were disturbing the Swazi and the Boers.

13.  The Boer population however went on increasing worrying. Mswati and the Swazi .

14.  The Increased Boer population led to more attack on the Swazi for more.

15.  Theophilus Shepstone led a white committee to look into the Swazi problem.

16.  Unfortunately the Boers become more stubborn and demanded the annexation of Swailand to Transvaal.

17.  The British however refused to support the annexation for economic reasons.

18.  By 1868 Mswati had managed to ensure peaceful relationship with Boers until his death.

19.  The Transvaal Boers were very much interested in Swaziland because it gave them a route to Kesi Bay.

20.  After Mwasti's death Boers took a more direct interest in 3wazi affairs and actually annexed it.

21.  Swaziland however, became a British protectorate in 1902.

 

British Annexation Of Swaziland

1.       Swaziland was a free country at least up to 1868.

2.       Transvaal started involving herself in Swaziland politics after Mwasti's death in 1868.

3.       The British at first failed to respond to a Swazi delegation sent by the Queen Regent.

4.       After the second Anglo-Boer war in 1902 the British took over legislation and jurisdiction of Swaziland without fully  annexing her.                          

5.       The British control occurred after the death of Mbandzeni.

6.       By 1910th however Swaziland was a full British protectorate.

7.       The Boers whose numbers had increased in Swaziland opposed the British annexation.

8.       The Transvaal Boers indeed wanted Swaziland because they had heavily invested in Swazi mines.

9.       Also the British opposed the Germans Transvaal railway and feared that the Germans and Boers would annex Swaziland if she di'-1 not.

10.     The failure of Theophilus Shepstone white Committee to handle the Swazi Issue led to British occupation.            

11.     The failure of the Provisional government set up after Mbandzenfs death caused the British occupation.

12.     The British wanted to protect the Africans whose land the Boers had started grabbing.

13.     The British got concerned about the enmity between the Swazi and Boers which would affect cape security.

14.     The British were not happy with the Boers interference in Swazi politics especially after Mbandzeni's death. '

15.     The Continued pressure from the traditional Swazi leaders finally convinced the British.

16.     The Long time negotiations between the British and The Boers over Swaziland finally gave way to British protectorate.

17.     The Out break of the second Anglo- Boer provided the British with a chance for taking over Swaziland.

 

The Road To Swaziland Independence

1.     The Swazi had a long history of struggle against the foreigners.

2.     This struggle inspired them to fight on for Independence.

3.     By 1902 the British had taken over Swaziland from the Boers who had annexed it in 1894.

4.     The Independence struggle was dominated by the personalities of king Sobhuza 11 and Prince Makhosini Jameson Diamini.

5.     In 1944 the British issued the Native administrative proclamation which promoted the status of the King.

6.     In 1950 the British modernized Swaziland and created the Swaziland national treasury.

7.     All these reforms excited the people and ignited demands for greater reforms.

8.     Earlier on the British had created the swazi national council which was a powerful political instrument.

9.     In 1960 John Nquku formed the first political party, the Swaziland progressive party (SPP)

10.  The SPP was anti-monarchy and demanded for a constitutional Monarch.

11.  In 1960 King Sobhuza 11 initiated constitutional reforms leading into the establishment of a legislative council.

12.  The Legislative council had both Europeans and Africans, The Europeans elected their representatives but Sobhuza nominated the African representatives.

13.  The SPP strongly object to the Kings dominance of the Legislative Council.

14.  Prince Makhosini Jameson Diamini led delegation to London for Constitutional talks in 1963.

15.  The London constitutional talk led to the establishment pf new legislative council and an executive council.

16.  The legislative council was made up of 4 official members, 3 nominated members and 24 elected members.

17.  The executive council had all members associated with government departments.

18.  In 1964 King Sobhuza 11 and Prince Makhosini formed the Mbokodvo national Movement (M.N.M).

19.  prpice Makhosini, amember of the legislative council pressed for new constitutional reforms in 1967.

20.  Under the 25-04-1967 constitution Britain retained control of defense, foreign affairs and internal security.

21.  The new constitution also had a house of assembly with 24 elected members, 6 nominated and an attorney - General.

22.  There was also a senate with 6 elected members, 6 nominated members.

23.  For any bill to become law it had to pass through both houses.

24.  In April 1967. the first house of assembly elections occurred and M.N.M won all the seats.

25.  The M.N.M demanded for Independence and on 6th 09.1968 Swaziland became Independent.