1986 Edition

Airfields

42 total, 40 usable; 4 with permanent-surface runways; 1 with runways 2,440-3,659 m, 1 with runways 1, 220-2,439 m

Branches

National Army (including Infantry Battalion, Military Police Brigade, Navy [company-size], Air Force)

constitution was repealed and Parliament dissolved by King Sobhuza II (deceased August 1982) in April 1973; new bicameral Parliament (Senate, House of Assembly) formally opened in January 1979; 80-member electoral college chose 40 members of lower house and 10 members of upper house; additional 10 members for each house chosen by King; executive authority vested in the King or Queen (with the advice of the Supreme Council of State), whose assent is required before parliamentary acts become law; King's authority exercised through Prime Minister and Cabinet who must be members of Parliament; judiciary is part of Ministry of Justice but otherwise independent of executive and legislative branches; cases from subordinate courts can be appealed to the High Court and the Court of Appeal

Capital

Mbabane (administrative); Lobamba (legislative capital)

Civil air

2 major transport aircraft

Communists

no Communist party

Ethnic divisions

96% African, 3% European, 1% mulatto

Fiscal year

calendar year Communications

Government leaders

Head of State, Ntombi THWALA, Queen Regent (since September 1983); Prince Bhekimpi DLAMINI, Prime Minister (since March 1983)

Highways

8,300 km total; 500 km paved; 5,400 km bauxite gravel, crushed stone, or improved earth; 2,400 km sand or clay

Infant mortality rate

156/1,000(1982)

Inland waterways

1,200 km; most important means of transport; oceangoing vessels with drafts ranging from 4.2 m to 7 m can navigate many of the principal waterways while native canoes navigate upper reaches

Labor force

195,000; over 60,000 engaged in subsistence agriculture; 55,000-60,000 wage earners, many only intermittently, with 36% agriculture and forestry, 20% community and social services, 14% manufacturing, 9% construction, 21 % other; 12,000 employed in South Africa (1982)

Land boundaries

435 km People

Language

English and siSwati (official); government business conducted in English

Legal system

based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts, Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; legal education at University of Botswana and Swaziland; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Life expectancy

men 46.8, women 50.0

Literacy

65%

Military budget

1983, $41.8 million; 8.2% of central government budget Sec regional map VII Land 17,363 km2; slightly smaller than New Jersey; mostly crop or pasture

Military manpower

males 15-49, 72,000; 43,000 fit for military service

Monetary conversion rate

1.79 Suriname guilders=US$l (September 1985)

National holiday

Somhlolo (Independence) Day, 6 September

Nationality

noun — Swazi(s); adjective — Swazi

Official name

Kingdom of Swaziland

Organized labor

about 15% of wage earners are unionized Government

Political subdivisions

4 administrative districts

Population

692,000 (July 1986), average annual growth rate 3.0%

Ports

1 major (Paramaribo), 6 minor

Railroads

166 km total; 86 km 1.000-meter gauge, government owned, and 80 km 1.435-meter standard gauge; all single track

Religion

57% Christian, 43% indigenous beliefs

Suffrage

universal for adults

Telecommunications

international facilities good; domestic radio-relay system; 27,500 telephones (6.3 per 100 popl.); 4 AM, 4 FM stations; 1 TV station; 2 Atlantic satellite stations Defense Forces

Type

monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth since September 1968