He was the second of 210 sons of the elderly King Sobhuza II, (who had 70 wives and at the time of his death left over 1000 grandchildren), and the only child of Ntombi Tfwala, also known as Inkosikati LaTfwala, one of the King’s younger wives. He was born at the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital, only four months before Swaziland attained independence from Britain, and after he and his mother were discharged from the hospital they went to live at one of King Sobhuza’s residences of Etjeni near Masundwini Palace. His birth name was Makhosetive (King of Nations).
As a young prince, Makhosetive attended Masundwini Primary School and Lozitha Palace School. He sat for the Swaziland Primary Certificate examination in December 1982 at Phondo Royal Residence and got a First Class with merit in Mathematics and English. He developed a great interest in the royal guard, becoming the first young cadet to join the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF).
Regency
When his father died of pneumonia in 1982, the royal council chose the 14-year-old prince Makhosetive to be the next king. For the next four years two female relatives served as regent, Queen Dzeliwe Shongwe (1982–1983) and Queen Ntombi Tfwala (1983–1986) while he continued with his education, attending the English Sherborne School.He later went to school in South Africa before he was ordered back to take over.
King
He was introduced as crown prince in September 1983 and was crowned king on April 25, 1986, aged 18 years and 6 days, and thus making him the youngest reigning monarch. The king and his mother, whose title is Indovukazi (Great She-Elephant), rule jointly.
Today he is Africa’s last absolute monarch. He inherited a rule by decree, but did restore the nation’s parliament, which had been dissolved by his father. The country is however,slowly becoming more democratised as seen by the enactment of the Swazi constitution(2005) after a long constitutional drafting process.
Mswati’s rule has been criticised for ignoring the growing problems of his subjects while lavishly spending his nation’s wealth on his own personal comfort, including buying a fleet of royal limousines, a luxury jet that cost a quarter of the nation’s annual budget (he eventually did not buy it after his subjects complained), and building and renovating palaces to house his thirteen wives. The civil and media freedom of speech are claimed by many to be restricted but as per its own admission in conferences with other regional media houses (MISA), it is free to report as it pleases. There is still a long way to go though before it really does as it pleases as in other democratic societies. All unmarried women were in 2001 placed under the chastity rite of “umcwasho” between 9 September 2001 and 19 August 2005 in an attempt to curb the spread of HIV and AIDS. This rite (re-introduced after suggestion from NGO’s), banned sexual relations for Swazis under 18 years of age, but in 2005, he violated this decree when he married a 17 year old girl, who became his 13th wife. As per custom, he was fined a cow by members of her regiment which he duly paid.
Succession
In Swaziland no king can appoint his successor. Only the royal family decides which of the wives shall be “Great wife” and “Indlovukazi” (She-Elephant / Queen Mother). The son of this “Great Wife” will automatically become the next king.
The “Great Wife” must only have one son and be of good character. Her character affects her child’s chances of ascending to the kingship. According to Swazi culture a son can not be the heir if his mother is not of good standing. She must not bear the maiden name of Nkhosi-Dlamini and she must not be a ritual wife (i.e. the eldest son is never the heir).
The King currently has twelve wives and two official fiancées — those who have not yet borne him a child. A Swazi king’s first two wives are chosen for him by the national councillors. These two have special functions in rituals and their sons can never claim kingship. The first wife must be a member of the Matsebula clan, the second of the Motsa clan. According to tradition, he can only marry his fiancées after they have fallen pregnant, proving they can bear heirs. Until then, they are liphovela. In 2002 it was alleged he caused Zena Mahlangu to be kidnapped to become his tenth wife, but no charges were pressed against him in his own courts.
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He who comes from above is greater than all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly matters, but he who comes from heaven is above all. He tells what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his message. But whoever accepts his message confirms by this that God is truthful. The one whom God has sent speaks God’s words, because God gives him the fullness of his Spirit. The Father loves his Son and has put everything in his power. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobey the Son will not have life, but will remain under God’s punishment.
O LORD, our Lord, your greatness is seen in all the world! Your praise reaches up to the heavens; it is sung by children and babies. You are safe and secure from all your enemies; you stop anyone who opposes you. When I look at the sky, which you have made, at the moon and the stars, which you set in their places – what are human beings, that you think of them; mere mortals, that you care for them? Yet you made them inferior only to yourself; you crowned them with glory and honour. You appointed them rulers over everything you made; you placed them over all creation; sheep and cattle, and the wild animals too; the birds and the fish and the creatures in the seas.
O LORD, our Lord, your greatness is seen in all the world! Praise God with shouts of joy, all people! Sing to the glory of his name; offer him glorious praise! Say to God, “How wonderful are the things you do! Your power is so great that your enemies bow down in fear before you. Everyone on earth worships you; they sing praises to you, they sing praises to your name.”
Come and see what God has done, his wonderful acts for mankind. He changed the sea into dry land; our ancestors crossed the river on foot. There we rejoiced because of what he did. He rules for ever by his might and keeps his eyes on the nations; let no rebels rise against him. Praise our God, all nations; let your praise be heard. He has kept us alive and has not allowed us to fall.
You have put us to the test, God; as silver is purified by fire so you have tested us. You let us fall into a trap and placed heavy burdens on our backs. You let our enemies trample over us; we went through fire and flood, but now you have brought us to a place of safety.
I will bring burnt offerings to your house; I will offer you what I promised. I will give you what I said I would when I was in trouble. I will offer sheep to be burnt on the alter, I will sacrifice bulls and goats, and the smoke will go up to the sky.
Come and listen, all who honour God, and I will tell you what he has done for me. I cried to him for help; I praised him with songs. If I had ignored my sins, the Lord would not have listened to me. But God has indeed heard me; he has listened to my prayer.
I praise God, because he did not reject my prayer or keep back his constant love from me. The LORD Almighty says, “I will attack Babylon and bring it to ruin. I will leave nothing- no children, no survivors at all. I, the LORD, have spoken. I will turn Babylon into a marsh, and owls will live there. I will sweep Babylon with a broom that will sweep everything away. I, the LORD Almighty, have spoken.
This is a message about Babylonia. Like a whirlwind sweeping across the desert, disaster will come from a terrifying land. I have seen a vision of cruel events, a vision of betrayal and destruction.
Army of Elam, attack! Army of Media, lay siege to the cities! God will put an end to the suffering which Babylon has caused. What I saw and heard in the vision has filled me with terror and pain, pain like that of a woman in labour. My head is spinning, and I am trembling with fear. I had been longing for evening to come, but it has brought me nothing but terror.
In the vision a banquet is ready; rugs are spread for the guests to sit on. They are eating and drinking. Suddenly the command rings out: “Officers! Prepare your shields!”
Then the Lord said to me, “Go and post a sentry, and tell him to report what he sees. If he sees men coming on horseback, two by two, and men riding on donkeys and camels, he is to observe them carefully.”
The sentry calls out, “Sir, I have been standing guard at my post day and night.”
Suddenly, here they come! Men on horseback, two by two. The sentry gives the news, “Babylon has fallen! All the idols they worshipped lie shattered on the ground.”
My people Israel, you have been threshed like wheat, but now I have announced to you the good news that I have heard from the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel.
Religious dogma.
And why are you preaching on a non-religious website?
It will be nice to see the Monarchy system abolished in Swaziland. Freeze all the Dlamini Clan Royal family Assets that are in Swaziland,SOuth Africa, England,US and in othr nation states. Freeze all their money and their children's money robed from the Swazi citizens tax payers money, robed from the resources of Swaziland etc. Swaziland belongs to all Swazi's and its not and never was a DLAMINI CLAN LAND but all resources belonged to all Swazi citizens born and raised in Swaziland from generation to Generation.
The King and past kings of Swaziland are nothing but thiefs that created TIBIYO to steal from the Swazi citizens and now its time the MAJORITY SWAZI CITIZENS protested and take back Swaziland from this thugs. The King of Swaziland and his father as Kings and queens has failed Swaziland before we even got Independence from the British. The present monarchy system needs to be abolished as soon as possible. and elect young people that see Swazi people as one people and working towards creating work, build houses for the poor, Free education, open up all the mines Gold and Diamon mines, free health care, build more clinics in all the regions, build more Infastructure malls, solar manufacturing companies, spend more on the AGRIBUSINESS.
But for this to happen Swaziland will be better off without the King and the present Prime minister and his family. to move forward Swaziland will have to ABOLISHED the monarchy system its a waiste of time and revise the TRADITIONAL CEREMONIES and take them out of the ROYAL palaces. Also take all the Royal family palaces and help save the ORPHANS that were neglected in those palaces.