King calls for African solutions to African challenges
By Thokozani Mazibuko
His Majesty King Mswati III has called on African leaders to prioritize indigenous governance systems as the key to overcoming poverty, hunger, and underdevelopment across the continent.
Speaking through Prince Guduza at the African Indigenous Governance Council Forum in Matsapha, the King urged leaders to champion uniquely African solutions:
“We have beautiful flora and fauna, with breathtaking landscapes and good alluvial soils, but we face poverty and hunger. I challenge you all, let us develop African solutions for African challenges,” said the King.
The landmark gathering brought together kings, queens, and traditional leaders from across Africa in what has been described as an unprecedented moment of unity.
His Majesty noted that never before had so many traditional authorities convened under one roof to deliberate on the future of African governance and its role in shaping modern development.
King Mswati III emphasized the AIGC’s mission: to strengthen indigenous African governance and secure recognition within the African Union and globally.
“This moment marks a rebirth, a renewed recognition of our ancestral governance as a cornerstone of unity, moral authority, and cultural legitimacy across our continent,” he declared.
The King expressed gratitude to His Royal Highness King Mfaw Robinson Tanyi, President of the AIGC, and the Continental Network of Traditional Authorities for their tireless work in convening the forum.
Their mission, he said, is to celebrate Africa’s cultural heritage, restore the enduring value of traditional systems, and position traditional authorities as equal partners in Africa’s modern development agenda.
His Majesty emphasized that traditional governance systems were once the heartbeat of African societies, providing wisdom, solidarity, and integrity before the advent of foreign models disrupted their path.
He highlighted the role of traditional institutions in promoting peace, reconciliation, community development, and cultural preservation.
“We are here to safeguard our sacred cultural heritage, preserve our indigenous knowledge, promote peace and reconciliation, and drive community development,” the King said.
Reflecting on Eswatini’s post-independence journey, the King showed how the country deliberately chose to preserve its monarchy and traditional governance system upon attaining independence in 1968.
“This choice has been our strength,” he said. “Through the Eswatini Nation Land system, we have empowered our people to thrive in agriculture, fostering self-reliance and economic stability.
We have struck a balance between modernity and our traditional ethos.”
He explained that Eswatini’s governance is anchored in the power of the people at the grassroots level, ensuring that culture and tradition continue to play a central role in national development.
The King concluded his address with a passionate call for unity among African traditional leaders, urging them to reclaim their rightful place in shaping the continent’s destiny.
“Today(Friday), we reclaim our place to heal, unite, and build,” he said, stressing the importance of integrating traditional systems into Africa’s modern governance structures.