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1970 - 1980 The English Parliamentary system that the British had left was diametrically at odds with the traditional Swazi system of absolute monarchy. Absolute monarchy won when King Sobhuza repealed the constitution and ruled directly. Democracy had lasted for much less than a decade. During this period noises started to be heard from South Africa. The Boers who had also been conquered by the British and who had also founded a unique system of government were facing growing opposition to their Apartheid policies from both within and without South Africa. Many opponents of the South African regime came to live in Swaziland with the tacit approval of King Sobhuza. He said of the period that it was like sitting in a hut with a dangerous snake. People on the outside were throwing stones at the snake, but he was in danger, not them. Industrialisation continued quite quickly, an army was formed and generally there was a surplus in the balance of payments. The entire government budget however was still small - to give an idea of scale, one year it was the same as the U.S. army's budget for brass bands. |