The king of Swaziland, one of the world’s few absolute monarchs, has announced that his country had changed its name to eSwatini to mark 50 years since independence from British rule.
He said the move was also necessary to stop the country from being confused with Switzerland.
Meaning ‘place of the Swazi’, eSwatini is the Swazi language name for the tiny nation landlocked between South Africa and Mozambique.
King Mswati III declared the name change during independence day celebrations at a packed sports stadium – he said he did not want his country to be confused with Switzerland
Mswati III attending a traditional Swazi ceremony near his palace in Lobamba back in 2016
The king said the name ‘Swaziland’ had caused confusion – ‘Whenever we go abroad, people refer to us as Switzerland,’ he said
Unlike some countries, Swaziland did not change its name when it gained independence in 1968 after being a British protectorate for more than 60 years.
King Mswati III declared the name change during independence day celebrations at a packed sports stadium in the second city of Manzini.
‘I would like to announce that Swaziland will now revert to its original name,’ he said, wearing red military uniform.
‘African countries on getting independence reverted to their ancient names before they were colonised. So from now on the country will be officially be known as the Kingdom of eSwatini.’
The name Swaziland angers some citizens as it is a mix of Swazi and English.
The king said the name ‘Swaziland’ had caused confusion.
King Mswati III meeting Queen Elizabeth II at a lunch For Sovereign Monarchs in honour of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee, at Windsor Castle in 2012
Swaziland – an impoverished southern African nation – has been a member of the Commonwealth after gaining independence from Britain in 1968
The name change could mean that the landlocked country’s constitution will have to be re-written
‘Whenever we go abroad, people refer to us as Switzerland,’ he said.
The king, who wore a red and black military uniform and rode in an open car into the stadium, said he wanted his country to have a name people could identify with.
The move has been mooted for several years, with lawmakers considering the issue in 2015. Mswati III has used the new name in previous official speeches.
The king, who was crowned in 1986 aged 18, rules by decree and has often been criticised for his lavish lifestyle despite the grinding poverty suffered by many of his citizens.
Political parties are banned from taking part in elections and only candidates approved by chiefs loyal to the king can stand for office.
The country, which has a population of about 1.3 million people, suffers the highest HIV rate in the world, with 27 percent of adults infected.
The name change could mean that the country’s constitution is re-written, as well as changes for the Royal Swaziland Police Force, the Swaziland Defence Force and the University of Swaziland.
After independence, Rhodesia became Zimbabwe, Nyasaland became Malawi, and Bechuanaland became Botswana.