Missions in Swaziland

The first mission in Swaziland was established by the Methodist Wesleyans in 1844.  Unlike most other missionary encounters with African people groups, the missionaries were invited by King Sobhuza in 1939.  However they were unable to come right away and did not arrive until re-invited by King Mswati, the son (1).  When the missionaries first arrived in Swaziland, they were welcomed with a gift of an ox, which was a gesture of friendship from King Mswati.  The king accepted the Word of God and allowed the missionaries to spread the word through his kingdom.  However, he told the missionaries that they were not allowed to change the customs, culture or traditions of his people while spreading the word. (2) 

Mission Church, Oldest place of worship in Swaziland.(3)

One of the missionaries, Reverend J. Allison, built a school at Sankolweni, which is believed to be the first school in Swaziland.  Later, in 1912 the Methodists built a church near the Mahamba border, which is still there today, and is the oldest intact church in the country (4).

In a report of the years 1919-‘20, there were twelve different religious groups working in Swaziland.  Included Roman Catholics, Anglicans, Wesleyan Methodist, African Methodist Episcopal, Independent Methodist, Full Gospel Mission of Norway, and several other groups.  Each of these different religious bodies helped spread education as well as their beliefs to the people around the nation (5).

Today missions, while still converting people to the Christian faith, are focused on health issues.  Swaziland has the highest adult prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the world, with 26.5% of the adult population having been diagnosed (as of 2012) (6).  There is one group of missionaries who founded a program called CHIPS (Children's HIV Intervention Program in Swaziland) in 2008, and also founded Kudvumisa Trust and Foundation in Swaziland in the same year.  Daran Rehmeyer, started these programs to provide Christ centered intercessions to help with medical and economic issues that many people are suffering in Swaziland, especially dealing with HIV+ orphaned children. (7)

CHIPS Mobile Clinic (8)

1) The Early Encounter Between the Swazi and the Western Missionaries, {http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10413/4443/Nyawo_Sonene_2004.pdf?sequence=1}, (pg. 81-82)

2) Discover Swaziland, 2014, (http://www.swazibusiness.com/discovery/shiselweni.html), para 2
3) Mahamba Gorge, (http://www.mahambagorgelodge.com/photo)
4) Discover Swaziland, 2014, (http://www.swazibusiness.com/discovery/shiselweni.html), para 2

5) Swaziland Report for 1919-20 (http://libsysdigi.library.illinois.edu/ilharvest/Africana/Books2011-05/469190/469190_1919_1920/469190_1919_1920_opt.pdf), pg. 7

6) CIA, World Fact Book, (https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2155rank.html) (table)

7) Rehmeyers_In_Swaziland (http://rehmeyers.blogspot.com), sec About Us
8) Ibid, CHIPS Expansion

Contact with the Outside

Changes to Swaziland's Border due to European Settlers (http://www.sntc.org.sz/cultural/swazihistory1.html)

Portuguese and Arabs set trade routes in Southern Africa beginning in the 16^th century, however they did not travel far inland.  This kept the Swazi from encountering “outsiders” until the 19^th century.

The first contact of Swazi people with the Europeans happened when the Dutch Boers moved inland and entered the southern part of Swazi territory.  This happened in the 1830’s, and in an attempt to seek accommodation with the local tribe, the Boers sought out Mswati (the king of the Swazi) and his council.  Mswati was willing to sell the Boers grazing and farming land.  There were two sales of land, the first in 1846 and the second in 1855, giving the Boers access to a portion of what is today Swaziland.(1)

Shortly after the Boers arrived in Swaziland, the Wesleyan missionaries set up a mission (1945) near modern day Mahamba. (2)  King Sobhuza, 1839, heard from the Zulus that another king in the area was conferring with missionaries.  He sent a representative to the mission to request someone be sent to his tribe.  When the missionary was unable to visit, King Sobhuza, on his deathbed, instructed his son to pursue the “dream”.  The dream was that Sobhuza saw men coming from the sea with money and a scroll, that his people needed to take the book not the money, and to welcome these people. (3) 

When the missionaries finally arrived in 1844, he was welcomed gladly by the Swazi people. They were given a portion of land and the locals were instructed by the king to help build the new chapel where many of the Swazi attended regularly. (4)

Political Map of South Africa 1885 {http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Wars_(1879%E2%80%931915)}

Although Swaziland was surrounded by areas that was in constant conflict, Swaziland was able to  preserve its existence as independent, even as other native tribes fell to European control.  The Swazi signed treaties with the Transvaal and the British which promised their independence.  The Swazi had also helped the Europeans out by giving grazing rights and then mining rights to settlers.  They even assisted in the conflict with the Zulu and Pedi enemies of the British. (5)

In 1894 the Boers and the British gave control of Swaziland to the South African Boer Republic of Transvaal, as a protectorate. However, after the Boer War, in 1902, Britain took control of Swaziland as a protectorate.  After losing about one-third of the original Swazi territory, Swaziland became an independent nation in 1968. (6)

1) The Kingdoms of Swaziland: Studies in Political History, {http://books.google.com/books?id=u3p9vATL1NkC&pg=PA30&lpg=PA30&dq=swaziland%27s+first+contact+with+europe&source=bl&ots=9JHMfzjEmW&sig=bsMZBbsKtUodBpCqkfw26qkMmtU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Y_VvVJCLD4mrgwTAlIPYDA&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=swaziland's%20first%20contact%20with%20europe&f=false}, (pg. 30)

2) Ibid, (pg. 30)

3) The Early Encounter Between the Swazi and the Western Missionaries, {http://researchspace.ukzn.ac.za/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10413/4443/Nyawo_Sonene_2004.pdf?sequence=1}, (pg. 81-82)

4) Ibid, (pg. 85)

5) South African Wars, {http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Wars_(1879%E2%80%931915)}, (Swaziland section under Government and Politics)

6) Swazi, {http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Swazi.aspx}, (History and Cultural Relations)

Natural Resources

The biggest natural resources for Swaziland are asbestos, coal, clay, cassiterite, hydropower, forests, some gold and diamond, quarry stone, talc. 

 Mining has been a part of Swaziland’s history since people first settled the area.  Swaziland is home to the oldest know mine site, the Lion Cavern, located at the Ngwenya Iron Mine northwest of Mbabane.  It is shown that the mine was used to collect hematite, specularite ochres for cosmetic and ritual use.  The mine late became an Iron mine, but was shut down in 1977. (1)

Ngwenya Mine and Lion cavern, the oldest know mine in the world. (http://www.thekingdomofswaziland.com/pages/attractions/the_attraction.asp?AttractionsID=10)

Most of the mines in Swaziland have declined in production or shut down.  Asbestos mines, coal mines, and the few diamond mines have all closed down. 

Asbestos mining was once the dominant mining revenue, was located at the Bulembu Mine. (2)  The Bulembu Mine, originally named Havelock Mine, extracted and sold white asbestos between 1939 and 2001.(3)  

Diamond mining took place from one kimberlite pipe, a volcanic rock, at Dvokolwako, operated by both Swaziland and South Africa, and produced about 70,000 carats worth of diamonds by the shutdown in 1996. (4) 

Quarry stone, brick clay, anthracite coal, pyrophyllite (talc), sand and gravel are still being mined today, as well as small scale gold mining, which is unreported.  Forest resources are one of the largest resources in use in Swaziland, which is due in part to the 1,290,000 acres of forests. (5)  Most wood production goes to the Usutu pulp mill, which exports unbleached wood pulp. (6)

 Swaziland’s biggest external trade is with South Africa, using mostly land routes, due to the fact that Swaziland is almost entirely surrounded by South Africa.  Swaziland also trades with Europe, North America, and the Far East using the ports of Maputo in Mozambique and Durban in South Africa (7).  These ports are accessed by railways and roadways (8).  

 However, problems have occurred with this trade; due to geographic location, poor infrastructure in Swaziland, high cost from inefficiencies at the border crossing, administrative delays, and political instability of the neighboring countries (9)

Swaziland view from the hills overlooking a river valley (http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/swaziland-guide/

  

1) http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Swaziland.aspx  (Mining para 1)

2) Ibid (Mining para 1)

3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulembu

4)  http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Swaziland.aspx  (Mining para 2)

5) Ibid (Mining para 2) 

6) Ibid (Forestry)

7) http://www.lldc2conference.org/custom-content/uploads/2013/07/Swaziland-National-report.pdf (pg. 4)

8) Ibid (pg. 6)

9) Ibid (pg. 6-7)