Swaziland: The chief of Moneni village, Manzini region, particularly information on Prince Mbokodvo Dlamini and number of wives in 2002
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 23 April 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | SWZ40885.E |
| Reference | 5 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Swaziland: The chief of Moneni village, Manzini region, particularly information on Prince Mbokodvo Dlamini and number of wives in 2002, 23 April 2003, SWZ40885.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4e210.html [accessed 22 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
According to Go2 Africa, a travel information Website affiliated with the African Safari and Travel agency, "Manzini is the commercial and industrial centre of Swaziland" (Go2Africa Website 2003).
Information pertaining to the chief of Moneni village in Manzini region, and specifically to Prince Mbokodvo Dlamini and his wives could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, the following information may be of interest.
Country Reports 2002 reports "since uncodified law and custom govern traditional marriage, women's rights often were unclear and change according to where and by whom they were interpreted. Couples often married in both civil and traditional marriages ... in traditional marriages, a man may take more than one wife" (31 Mar. 2003). Although polygamy is not permitted under civil law, Country Reports 2002 points out that in practice this restriction was sometimes ignored during the year (ibid.).
According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), polygamy is "legal in Swaziland and allows men to marry as many wives as they want under Swazi Law and Custom (SLC)" (2002).
King Mswati III, "traditionally, the head of the state and the government" (Mail & Guardian 4 Apr. 2003) is reported to have taken by force, in October 2002, an 18 year-old woman to become either his 10th (UN 17 Oct. 2002; Voice of America 15 Nov. 2002) or his 12th wife (UN 30 Oct. 2002). Although the mother of the woman sued the monarchy for the return of her daughter (UN 30 Oct. 2002; ibid. 17 Oct. 2002), the case was withdrawn when the daughter reportedly agreed to marry the king (Voice of America 15 Nov. 2002).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2002. 31 March 2003. United States Department of State. Washington, DC. Go2 Africa. "Manzini." Mail and Guardian (Johannesburg). 10 April 2003. Vicki Robinson. "No Law in the Land." _____. 30 October 2002. Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN). "Swazi Women Push for a New Constitution." _____. 17 October 2002. Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN). "Swaziland: King's Men Abduct Schoolgirl; Sparks Royal Row." _____. 2002. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). "Gender Focused Responses to HIV/AIDS." Voice of America. 15 November 2002. "Swaziland's Absolute Monarchy Challenged."
Additional Sources Counsulted
Africa Confidential
Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series
Country Reports
IRB Databases
Keesing's Record of World Events
NEXIS
The Political Handbook of the World
Resource Centre. Country File. Swaziland
Internet sites, including:
Amnesty International
Africa Online
AllAfrica.com
BBC Africa
CIA
Search engines, including
Google
