Judicial branch: High Court, judges are appointed by the monarch;
Court of Appeal, judges are appointed by the monarch
Political parties and leaders: Convention for Full Democracy in Swaziland or COFUDESWA ; Ngwane Socialist Revolutionary Party or NGWASOREP ; People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO ; Swaziland Communist Party or SWACOPA ; Swaziland Democratic Alliance (represents key opposition parties) ; Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions or SFTU ; Swaziland Liberation Front or FROLISA ; Swaziland National Front or SWANAFRO ; Swaziland Youth Congress or SWAYOCO (included in PUDEMO) note: political parties are banned by the constitution promulgated on 13 October 1978; illegal parties are prohibited from holding large public gatherings
International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, FAO,
G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF,
Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Mary Madzandza KANYA chancery: 3400 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: (202) 362-6683 FAX: (202) 244-8059
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gregory L. JOHNSON embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane telephone: 404-6441 through 404-6445 FAX: 404-5959
Flag description: three horizontal bands of blue (top), red (triple width), and blue; the red band is edged in yellow; centered in the red band is a large black and white shield covering two spears and a staff decorated with feather tassels, all placed horizontally
@Swaziland:Economy
Economy - overview: In this small landlocked economy, subsistence agriculture occupies more than 60% of the population. Manufacturing features a number of agroprocessing factories. Mining has declined in importance in recent years; high-grade iron ore deposits were depleted by 1978, and health concerns have cut world demand for asbestos. Exports of soft drink concentrate, sugar, and wood pulp are the main earners of hard currency. Surrounded by South Africa, except for a short border with Mozambique, Swaziland is heavily dependent on South Africa from which it receives four-fifths of its imports and to which it sends three-fourths of its exports. Remittances from Swazi workers in South African mines supplement domestically earned income by as much as 20%. The government is trying to improve the atmosphere for foreign investment. Overgrazing, soil depletion, and drought persist as problems for the future.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $4.2 billion (1999 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3.1% (1999 est.)