King Sobhuza II of Swaziland
Nkhotfotjeni, later known as King Sobhuza II of Swaziland, was born on July 22, 1899. He was chosen as the heir to the Swazi throne that same year and officially installed as king in 1921. His selection was controversial, as his father left behind six widows, each with a child eligible for succession. The council of princes, tasked with choosing the heir, failed to make a decision, leaving his grandmother, Labotsibeni Mdluli, to determine the successor. Following Swazi law and custom, Sobhuza was chosen, but as he was still a minor, Labotsibeni ruled as queen regent.
While the British recognized Sobhuza as the rightful heir, they insisted that only the British monarch could hold the title of “king,” referring to Sobhuza as “paramount chief.” Sobhuza was the first Swazi king to receive formal education, attending Lovedale College in South Africa from 1916 until 1918, when he was called home due to his grandmother’s deteriorating health and the death of her daughter, Ntongontongo. Labotsibeni recommended he remain in Swaziland to prepare for leadership.
When Sobhuza officially took over in 1921, Swaziland was still reeling from British land alienation policies. His first major action was to continue the Swazi struggle for the return of land taken under the 1907 proclamation. Although his efforts were largely unsuccessful, he did manage to establish the Native Land Settlement Scheme in the 1940s.
A key focus of Sobhuza’s rule was preserving Swazi political institutions. Aware that colonialism was dismantling traditional governance structures across Africa, he prioritized strengthening the monarchy. He insisted that colonial officials should not directly interact with the Swazi people in reserves, maintaining the authority of traditional power structures and the Swazi land tenure system.
In the 1940s, he resisted British efforts to reform traditional leadership, rejecting a proposal that Swazi chiefs should be appointed rather than inherit their positions. He insisted that Swazi law and custom should continue to govern succession. This commitment extended into the decolonization period, when modern political parties emerged as a perceived threat to the monarchy. In response, Sobhuza formed his own political movement to secure power during Swaziland’s transition to independence in 1968. His traditionalist faction successfully inherited power from the British, and he remained in control until his death in 1982.
Sobhuza’s reign was marked by a blend of modernization and authoritarian rule. While Swaziland underwent economic development, its political system remained undemocratic. From 1968 onwards, he consolidated power, systematically eliminating political opposition while reinforcing traditional governance. His leadership style emphasized personal rule, with political parties only tolerated if they recognized his authority. The independence constitution granted him executive and legislative powers, making him the ultimate decision-maker in all state affairs. His power was even celebrated in praise songs, which described him as “the mouth that spoke no lie.”
Sobhuza maintained control over the government by personally appointing cabinet ministers, ensuring loyalty to the monarchy. His intolerance for opposition was justified through appeals to Swazi tradition, arguing that leadership should not be contested and that political parties were foreign constructs unsuitable for Swaziland. This stance led to increasingly repressive policies.
In 1973, he abolished the independence constitution, arguing that it undermined Swazi traditional governance by allowing political parties to contest for leadership. From then on, opposition was systematically suppressed. Laws were enacted to limit freedoms of expression and association, making protests and gatherings of more than five people illegal without police approval. Violators faced detention for up to sixty days without trial. As a result, most opposition voices were silenced, creating an illusion of national stability.
To further legitimize the monarchy’s authority, Sobhuza implemented the Tinkhundla political system in 1978. This system allowed for parliamentary representation through rural localities called Tinkhundla, but it was primarily designed to entrench the power of the traditional oligarchy and reinforce the king’s dominance.
By the time of Sobhuza’s death in 1982, Swaziland’s governance remained heavily centered around the monarchy. The political system he established continued to suppress opposition, with ministers and officials remaining loyal to the king. Labor unions and political organizations were actively discouraged, as they were perceived as threats to royal authority.
King Sobhuza II’s reign, spanning over six decades, was defined by his relentless efforts to maintain Swazi traditions, consolidate monarchical power, and suppress political opposition. His rule shaped Swaziland’s political landscape, leaving a lasting legacy of centralized authority and resistance to democratic reforms.
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