Swaziland

Overview

The kingdom of Swaziland is one of the world’s few remaining absolute monarchies. The country is small and completely country surrounded by South Africa, with the exception of a short border area shared with Mozambique. Mountains, hills, and moderately sloping plains fill the landscape, and climate ranges from tropical to near temperate. Natural resources include asbestos, coal, clay, tin, hydropower, forests, small gold and diamond deposits, quarry stone, and talc.

The country is almost totally homogeneous: nearly 97 percent are Swazi, while only three percent are European. Official languages are Siswati and English. Though many children need improved educational opportunities, the country has one of the highest literacy rates in Africa.
 

During the 1800s, the Swazi people migrated from other areas of Africa to settle in the region; they appointed Mswati II as their king. In 1877 Great Britain annexed the land and took control in 1902 following the Boer War. Though power was returned to the king in 1944, Swaziland did not win its independence until 1968. Once gained, the king did not want to share control; in 1973, he repealed the constitution, assumed absolute power, and dissolved parliament. A new constitution was put in place in 1979, stating that all government representatives were indirectly elected or appointed by the king. Swaziland's monarchy was moving toward political reform, but King Mswati III has not fulfilled his promises to move toward democracy. In 2002, the government was criticized for buying a $50 million luxury jet for the king when hundreds of thousands of Swazis faced starvation. Further, the king planned to be build multimillion-dollar palaces for each of his 12 wives by 2005, which was condemned by international agencies.
 

Swaziland is significantly dependent economically on South Africa, where most of its exports are marketed. In the past many Swazi men were employed in South African mines, but in recent years that industry has declined. More than 80 percent of people are engaged in subsistence agriculture. Crops include sugarcane, cotton, corn, tobacco, rice, and citrus. Farmers also raise cattle, goats, and sheep. Many families have only small plots of land, and they struggle to grow sufficient food. Rarely do they have any crops left to sell for income that might provide necessary items such as clothing and education for their children.

Unavailable and unaffordable health care has been an issue for years. However, the greatest health concern now is HIV and AIDS. Swaziland has the highest rate of HIV infection in the world–the overall prevalence rate among adults is 40 percent. Social conditions that have led to the higher infection rate include poverty, poor nutrition, multiple partners, misinformation, and even denial that the disease exists. More than 220,000 Swazis are living with HIV.
 

In addition, an estimated 63,000 children have lost parents due to HIV and AIDS. Many of these youngsters have no relatives with whom they can live and are forced to drop out of school and provide for themselves. With the loss of so many adults, family income and food production have fallen dramatically. Furthermore, more than half of the population is under age 18 and the unemployment rate is 40 percent. These factors, combined with drought and extreme weather during 2000 to 2005, have contributed to acute food shortages and an increase in life-threatening malnutrition. One-fourth of the people require food aid as their primary or supplementary source of life-sustaining nutrition. The government estimates seasonal grain production at 76 tons, far short of the 237 tons required for human and livestock consumption.

World Vision's History in Swaziland

World Vision began ministering to the people of Swaziland in 1975 through the South Africa office. Initial efforts included child sponsorship for 151 children in two orphanages to provide education, nutrition, and health care. In 1987, World Vision established an office in Swaziland to coordinate additional activities, including nutrition programs, developing clean drinking water and sanitation facilities, and agricultural improvements.
 

From 1988 to 1998 World Vision’s work in Swaziland grew from two to 12 projects and the number of sponsored children increased to 2,609. Projects included:

• The Sitsatsaweni Child Development Project assisted 120 children by providing school fees, books, and uniforms. Thirty children under age five received education and improved nutrition through a nursery school and feeding program. Water and sanitation facilities were improved; 30 women received training to increase incomes; and 20 families benefited from the introduction of dairy farming and community gardening.
• The Tsambokhulu Child Development Project assisted 200 children by paying school fees, providing books and uniforms, and instituting a nursery school. A health care center also was established. Constructing a catchment system, drilling boreholes, and installing two water tanks improved water availability.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, World Vision created area development programs (ADPs) to provide greater interventions to clusters of villages. Efforts focused on education, agricultural production, health, water resources, and HIV and AIDS. Programs included:

• The Swaziland Water Project for Drought Mitigation, in response to a severe drought in 1992-96, constructed earthen dams to provide year-round water for garden plots and for human and livestock consumption. Families also received training in vegetable production.
• Food Aid helped alleviate the causes and effects of severe food shortages throughout southern Africa. In Swaziland, staff distributed food to more than 100,000 people and offered long-term assistance through provision of improved seeds to increase harvest yields. World Vision reached more than 53,000 people through the provision of food, commodities, and health and nutrition programs.
• The Trachoma Elimination Project sought to reduce the prevalence of blindness attributable to trachoma by providing safe, potable water to improve sanitation and health throughout communities being served.

World Vision in Swaziland Today

Since World Vision's initial involvement in Swaziland began, thousands of children and their communities have benefited. World Vision is now the leading international nongovernmental organization in Swaziland, operating in 17 ADPs, four of which are funded by donors in the United States.
 

Community partnerships have been launched in the Mhlosheni, Mpolonjeni, and Sithobela ADP communities. Each partnership addresses a community’s specific need, such as food insecurity, poor water supplies, financial insecurity (especially among women), inadequate health care, gender issues, and the environment. These partnerships are designed to mobilize donors and local churches in projects that support communities severely impoverished and deeply affected by the AIDS crisis. For example, in the Mhlosheni ADP, a project seeks to rear 12 dairy cows in fenced and irrigated pastures in Shiselweni, the poorest region in the country. Each food distribution center in the area will receive two cows to increase milk consumption and reduce the incidence of hunger and malnutrition of orphans and vulnerable children. A total of 553 such boys and girls will benefit from the project.
 

Currently, more than 14,819 girls and boys are receiving the benefits of child sponsorship through the generosity of U.S. donors. Other activities include:

• HIV and AIDS Phase II Projects focus on prevention education for 51 communities, reaching some 180,000 people. In addition, health workers receive training to offer home-based care to people living with HIV and AIDS; anti-AIDS clubs, for youth, promote values and responsible behavior; and health care supplies are provided.
• The Swaziland Microenterprise Institution serves marginalized individuals by offering business management training and small business loans. The goal is to introduce a community savings plan while encouraging increased productivity and improved incomes.

 
World Vision staff remain committed to bringing help and hope to families in Swaziland. For more information on World Vision’s efforts in Swaziland, please contact the United States office.