King Mswati III

King Mswati III

Swaziland

Population: 1,123,913

Age Structure: 0-14 years: 39.4% (male 223,420/female 219,420)
15-64 years: 56.9% (male 308,251/female 331,623)
65 years and over:3.7% (male 15,261/female 25,938) (2009 est.)

Population Growth Rate: -0.459%

Birth Rate: 26.25 births/1,000 population

Death Rate: 30.7 deaths/1,000 population

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 26.1%

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: 190,000

HIV/AIDS - deaths: 10,000

Ethnic groups: African 97%, European 3%

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): male:10 years, female:10 years

Born: April 19, 1968 age 41

Father: King Sobhuza II (who had 70 wives)

Mother: Queen Ntombi Tfwala

Schooling: Masundwini Primary School and Sherborne School

Marriage: 14 wives concurrently

Children: 23

Royal House: House of Dlamini

How did he come into power? In Swaziland no king can appoint his successor. Only an independent special traditional Council called the Liqoqo 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. King Mswati's mother was the “Great Wife”. When he was a young boy, Mswati and his mother moved to one of King Sobhuza's residences of Etjeni near Masundwini Palace. As a young prince, Makhosetive attended Masundwini Primary School and Lozitha Palace School. He took 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). When King Sobhuza II died in 1982, the Great Council of State selected the 14-year-old prince Makhosetive to be the next king. For the next four years, two wives of the late King Queen Dzeliwe Shongwe (1982–1983) and Queen Ntombi Tfwala (1983–1986), served as regent while he continued his education in England attending Sherborne School and then was called back to take over.

How has he stayed in power? Today he is Africa's last absolute monarch in the sense that he has the power to choose the prime minister, other top government posts and top traditional posts. Even though he makes the appointments, he still has to get special advice from the queen mother and council. Because Mswati is in the Royal family the country does not believe that they can remove him from being King, which has now turned into a dictatorship.

Explain the types of human rights problems most people have with this dictator. What are specific examples of recent human rights violations with this dictator? Mswati is also known for his having 14 wives, which has drawn sharp criticism from opponents, considering that he is the role model of a country whose AIDS infection rate has jumped to more than 25%, including 70,000 AIDS orphans. Swaziland has terrible conditions in including food shortages, but Mswati considered buying himself a private jet in 2001 for $45 million dollars but those plans were canceled; he has also petitioned the legislature for $15 million dollars in funds for the construction of a grand palace to house his relatives. While dealing with political battles Mswati has troubles with his own advisors. For example, in 2001 Mswati banned certain periodicals, only to admit later that he never read the decree. Mswati has also eliminated bail for certain crimes, including unlawful public demonstrations and has made punishments for defamation of the government much stricter.

How would your life be different if you lived in this country? My life would be extremely different. Women are not thought of highly in this country and that would create issues for me because I know that I could not live happily in a country where I do not have freedom of speech, religion, and women's rights. One Prime Minister commented on Women's rights and said, “ the protest was against the Swazi culture and an act by disrespectful women who have taken the fight for women a bit too far.” Swaziland also has a very high HIV/AIDS rate mostly from rape.

Should the United Nations or the United States take any action to remove this dictator?

I don't think that we should because he does not seem like a huge threat to other countries. The United Nations or United States could go to the country and help them out with food shortages, and medication. But according to these stats (left side bottom scorecard http://www.dictatorofthemonth.com/Mswati/Feb2005MswatiEN.htm ) he is not a threat to other nations.

Advertisement has been a large part of the economy for many years. From the meat packing industries to the generations of LCD flat screen TV’s advertisement will always be a necessity. The word unsustainable means to not be supported, which advertisement should fall under the category of an activity that is unsustainable. The first advertisement ever published was in 1704, an announcement seeking a buyer for an Oyster Bay estate. In the year 2008 the average American saw over 3,000 ads per day with a total of 650 billion dollars spent on advertising just that year. In 1920 the only ads that were being produced were by billboards, voice, or newsprint. In the year 1916 America had only 60 advertisement companies. That number has increased to over 10,000 companies up to 2004.
Cell Phone Ad, 2009
Telephone Ad, 1910
The issue of advertisement was never solved by political parties, social justice, or economic changes. Advertisement has always been an action that business owners know will help sell their merchandise. The key
to being a young adult or even a full grown adult in the year 2009 is to understand that you do not need to look like the ads you see or buy the items you see on the ads. Citizens cannot tell the advertisement firms to, “Please stop putting your ads on the television.” They would just laugh in your face because in all reality that is how they make their money. On the other hand society doesn’t have to listen or watch the ads, it is simply your choice as an individual. Reading quotes from different actresses such as Hedy Lamarr, famous actress in the 1920s. She stated that All a woman needs is a good bath, clean clothes, and for her hair to be combed. These things she can do herself. I very seldom go to the hairdresser, but when I do, I just marvel. During her time many newsprints would be delivered everyday to their homes, they were advertising hairdressers because in the early 1920’s the bob became very popular and ‘everyday women’ could not complete the look. I think her quote shows that she looked passed advertising and was confident in herself.