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SWAZILAND REPORT FOR 1911-12

COLONIAL REPORTS—ANNUAL
No. 740
SWAZILAND REPORT FOR 1911-12

I.—FINANCIAL.

    The total revenue for the year amounted to £57,306 17s. 9d., as against an estimate of £57,810, and the total expenditure to £62,191 11s. 3d., the final approved estimate being £69,098...

    The revenue for 1908-9 was inflated by the collection of arrear tax. The imposition of a dog tax accounts for the increase in the revenue in 1910-11. As will be seen from the comparative table on the next page, the revenue collections for 1911-12 show a progressive increase under most heads.

    The sums of £761 1s. 1ld. in 1909-10, £12,082 17s. 6d. in 1910-11, and £7,896 1s. 10d. in 1911-12, 2.e., £20,740 1s. 3d. for the three years, not included in the figures shown in the above table, represent proceeds from sales and leases of Crown Lands. A sum of £7,000 was not realised as expected. This was set down on the estimates of revenue for the year as follows :—

       Recoveries on account of survey costs incurred £2,000

    Recoveries on account of land expropriated in connection with settlement of concessions £5,000

    The necessary data for the allocation of these costs are not yet available.

    Expenditure not shown in the table, amounting in all to £190,126 has been spent on abnormal services, the principal of which was the general settlement of concessions, including the partition of rights between the concessionaires and the Swazis. The settlement is now practically complete. Of this expenditure, which has been met from loans amounting to £100,000 raised for the purpose and from ‘the general revenue, approximately £30,000 will be recoverable from concessionaires...

II.—TRADE, AGRICULTURE, AND INDUSTRIES.

(b.) AGRICULTURE.

    Another bad season was experienced, the natives losing a large percentage of their crops for want of rain. The European farmers, with better methods, did not suffer to the same extent, though in their case considerable losses were likewise occasioned. Hailstorms also did considerable damage to the crops.

    The number of European farmers is gradually increasing. Most of them are men with small] holdings, from 60 acres to 400 morgen, who grow maize, millet, tobacco and other products which can be disposed of on local markets...

(d.) MINING.

    Mining in Swaziland is carried on under the authority of concessions granted by the late King Mbandini. Gold is worked at several mines near the western border, the principal of these being the mine at Pigg’s Peak. Tin is found in payable quantities in the vicinity of Mbabane...
VII.—VITAL STATISTICS.

(d.) METEOROLOGY.

    The climate generally is mild and healthy, except in what is known as the low veld, which is malarial during the rainy season. The average rainfall for the year ended June 30th, 1912, at stations over 3,000 feet altitude was 40°40 inches on 117 days, under 38,000 feet, 30°05 on 96 days, the means for the past eight years being 45:40 inches on 122 days and 36:85 on 96 days respectively. The mean maximum screen temperature at Mbabane during this period was 72°6, while the mean minimum was 52°7. The highest screen temperature recorded at this station was 94, while the lowest was 27. In the middle and low veld the temperatures are considerably higher.

VIII.—POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH SERVICES.

    These services are under the control of the Postmaster-General of the Union, but are paid for from the revenues of Swaziland. Revenue for the year amounted to £1,826 18s. 9d., and expenditure to £1,983 19s. 7d. The number of post offices was 11, money order offices 4, and telegraph offices 4...

    A passenger coach service runs twice a week between Breyten Station and Mbabane—distance about 89 miles.

IX.—GENERAL.

    No events of political importance occurred during the year. The completion of the settlement of the concessions question enabled the Government to issue freehold title to applicants entitled thereto under their concessions. The imposition of a land tax was in contemplation, but, owing to the representations of landowners, its consideration has been postponed. Arrangements were made during the year, to which effect was given by, legislation, for the Special Court of Swaziland to hold two sessions a year, one in January and one in July, and at such other times as may be necessary.

    A census of the population, stock, &c., was taken in May, 1911. No comparison of figures is possible with the census of 1904, except in regard to the numbers of the population, as the 1904 census contains no information on other subjects. Of two large factors operating adversely to the general development of Swaziland, the one, viz., vagueness of land title, has now been removed, while the other, viz., Hast Coast fever, is under complete control.

    The presence of blue wildebeeste, zebra, and sassaby has been reported in the southern game reserve. These are visitors from the adjoining reserve in Zululand. The Assistant Commissioner of the district estimates that there are not less than 200 kudu living in the reserve. Wild dogs do a great deal of damage, and rewards are paid for their destruction...

D. Honey,
Government Secretary. Mbabane,
2nd September, 1912.    
All of Eswatini is
one time zone at GMT,
with no Daylight Savings time.

  Eswatini News


    Kingdom of Swaziland: Autonomy for the Swazis of southern Africa was guaranteed by the British in the late 19th century; independence was granted in 1968.
    Student and labor unrest during the 1990s pressured the monarchy (one of the oldest on the continent) to grudgingly allow political reform and greater democracy.
    King MSWATI III renamed the country from Swaziland to Eswatini in April 2018. Despite its classification as a lower-middle income country, Eswatini suffers from severe poverty and high unemployment. Eswatini has the world's highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate, although recent years have shown marked declines in new infections.

    CIA World Factbook: Eswatini


Area of Eswatini 17,363 sq km
slightly smaller than New Jersey

Population of Eswatini 1,130,043 (2023) | 1,169,241 (2004)

Languages of Eswatini
English, siSwati both official
government business conducted in English

Eswatini Capital: Mbabane
Lobamba is the royal and legislative capital


LOBAMBA WEATHER

  Eswatini Reference Articles and Links

Wikipedia: Swaziland - History of Swaziland
BBC Country Profile: Swaziland - US State Department: Swaziland Profile

Maps of Eswatini - Historic Maps of Africa - 1885 Map of Africa

WikiTravel: Eswatini

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ABYZ: Eswatini News Links

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