Hhohho Region

Hhohho Region kaHhohho
Map of Swaziland showing Hhohho region Map of Swaziland showing Hhohho region
Coordinates:
Country	Swaziland
Established	1903
Regional Capital	Mbabane
Government
• Regional Administrator	Dr. Ben Mshamndane Sibandze
• Regional Secretary	Mrs Jabulile B. Dlamini
Area
• Total	3,625.17 km2 (1,399.69 sq mi)
Population (2007 census)
• Total	282,734
• Density	78/km2 (200/sq mi)

Hhohho is a region of Swaziland, located in the north western part of Swaziland from the north and running southwards to the centre, Hhohho was named after the capital of King Mswati II, who expanded the Swazi territory to the north and west, taking in the districts of Barberton, Nelspruit, Carolina and Piet Retief. These areas were later acquired by what was the Province of Transvaal and today they form part of the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. It has an area of 3,625.17 km², a population of 282,734 (2007), and is divided into 14 tinkhundla. The administrative center is the national capital of Mbabane. It borders Lubombo Region on the southeast and Manzini Region in the southwest.

Etymology

The name Hhohho was the name of the royal capital of Mswati II, a 19th century king of Swaziland. After the Anglo-Boer war, Swaziland came under British administration. A partition of the country into districts followed and Hhohho was the name chosen for the northernmost district.

History

The region of Swaziland which is today Hhohho was inhabited in earlier times by the Khoisan people. Later, Bantu settlers of Nguni and Sotho origin established settlements in the area. The land was later conquered by King Sobhuza I in the early 19th century as he relocated his capital from Zombodze in present day Shiselweni, to Zombodze in the centre of Swaziland. Sotho clans such as the Gama, Mnisi and Magagula, and Nguni clans such as the Maseko, were incorporated into the Swazi state. The royal capital of Sobhuza was built in what forms the Ezulwini valley (valley of heaven). This land was chosen for its impenetrability by invaders, and for its fertility, and good rivers.

Under the rule of King Mswati II, the royal capital of the king was constructed north of the country and was called Hhohho. This is the eponym of the Hhohho region. This briefly shifted the political centre of Swaziland northwards, first to minimise the danger of invasion by Zulu forces from the south, and later to expand and conquer lands in the north. Indeed, Mswati's armies expanded the territory of Swaziland. More royal outposts were constructed in towns that are now in South Africa's Mpumalanga province. The loss of the territory occurred after Mswati's reign had ended, and was spurred by the concession hunters, and settlers in the territory that became the Transvaal Republic.

In the northwest of Swaziland, gold was discovered, drawing a large number of miners and settlers in the area. Gold deposits were first recorded around Piggs Peak during modern times in 1872 and in 1884 a gold-bearing reef was discovered in the hills to the west by the prospector, William Pigg, after whom the town is named. Other mining adventures took place in the neighbouring town of Bulembu, where later on, asbestos was mined. The town of Ngwenya on the western border of Swaziland with South Africa, is home to the oldest known iron-ore mine in the world. Commercial scale mining took place in the mine until 1977.

During Swaziland's status as a British protectorate (1903–68), Hhohho borders were officially drawn, with its capital, and that of the country being Mbabane. The British resident commissioner had his offices in the town. The city, the meaning of whose name is believed to originate from a “small and bitter highveld plant” that grew in the area, is named after Chief Mbabane Kunene.

Law and government

The Hhohho region is governed by the regional administrator, who is appointed by the king. The present regional administrator is Dr Ben Sibandze. The seat of the regional administration is in the regional capital, Mbabane. Mbabane is also the administrative capital of Swaziland.

Hhohho is subdivided to 14 tinkhundla, or constituencies. These are local administration centres, and also parliamentary constituencies. Each inkhundla is headed by an indvuna yenkhundla or governor with the help of bucopho. The tinkhundla are further divided into chiefdoms. The present tinkhundla are:

• Hhukwini
• Lobamba
• Madlangempisi
• Maphalaleni
• Mayiwane
• Mbabane East
• Mbabane West
• Mhlangatane
• Motjane
• Ndzingeni
• Nkhaba
• Ntfonjeni
• Piggs Peak
• Timpisini

The legal system in Hhohho follows that of the whole country. There are magistrate courts which administer Roman-Dutch law.

Economy

Hhohho is the most economically advanced region of Swaziland. Being home to the capital of the country, and hosting a significant fraction of the Manzini-Mbabane corridor, it has Swaziland's biggest urbanized population. The economy of the region is dominated by services, tourism, and forestry. The capital, Mbabane is home to the headquarters of many of Swaziland's corporations. The central bank of Swaziland is located in Mbabane, so are the headquarters of Standard Bank, Nedbank, Swazi Bank, First National Bank and Swaziland Building Society. The other financial services companies located in Mbabane include: African Alliance, Select Management Services, Swaziland Revenue Authority, among many others.

The forestry industry is one of the most important sectors of the Hhohho economy. The area around the towns of Piggs Peak and Bulembu is home to many planted forests and sawmills. The wood is exported for processing in South Africa. The remaining agricultural sector remains very small. Most rural dwellers continue to cultivate rain-fed crops on Swazi Nation Land, and keep small amounts of livestock.

Mining in Hhohho has declined significantly over the period of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st. Mining in the early 19th century was the dominant industry with mines located in Ngwenya mine, Bulembu, Piggs Peak and other areas. Ngwenya mine is notable for its status as the oldest known iron-ore mine in the world. Some mining activity still continues in this mine under the Indian mining company Salgaocar. The other mines in the region are no longer operational. The Bulembu mining town which was the main centre for asbestos mining, has now diversified to other sectors, and is privately owned.

Tourism is one of the largest sectors of the Hhohho economy. The Ezulwini valley is Swaziland's most famous tourist area with many hotels and restaurants. In Lobamba, the royal and legislative capital of Swaziland, various tourist attractions exist. These include the National Museum, the King Sobhuza II Memorial, and the Swaziland National Archives. The umhlanga festival, held at Ludzidzini Royal Kraal, is one of the most famous cultural events in Swaziland. Mantenga Falls and cultural village, also in the Zulwini valley, are magnets for Swazi culture tourists. Further north of the region, lies the Maguga dam and lodge, and further north is the Phophonyane Falls. Hhohho is also home to the Malolotja nature reserve, a place renowned for its hiking trails.

Cultural

Hhohho is home to the royal capital of Swaziland at Lobamba. Here the main cultural events of the country are held. These are the Incwala ceremony and the Umhlanga ceremony.

Hhohho is also home to art galleries such as the Indingilizi Gallery in Mbabane. Performance arts can be seen at the thearter club, also in Mbabane.

Education

A campus of the national University of Swaziland is located in Mbabane, and specializes in health and environmental sciences. The Swaziland College of Technology (SCOT), is also located in Mbabane, and focuses of various technical trades. Recent tertiary institutions in the Region are the Swaziland Christian University and a campus of Limkokwing University.