LOBAMBA — King Mswati III has thanked emaSwati for their loyalty, unity and commitment to peace as the Kingdom celebrated 40 years of his reign alongside his 58th birthday.
Speaking at Somhlolo National Stadium during the Ruby Jubilee celebrations, the King reflected on the nation’s journey since his coronation on April 25, 1986, pointing to progress in economic growth, infrastructure, healthcare and education.
“Today is a sacred moment of national thanksgiving and reflection, a time to honour the grace of God, our ancestral guidance, and the loyalty of all emaSwati,” he said. 
The King paid tribute to the legacy of his predecessor, King Sobhuza II, describing it as the foundation upon which modern Eswatini has been built.
“Today as emaSwati, we note and appreciate the role played by King Sobhuza II whose legacy shaped modern Eswatini. His reign was woven with achievements and cultural protection that define the heart of Eswatini,” he said.
He pointed to the preservation of cultural ceremonies such as Incwala and Umhlanga as central to the country’s identity, noting that participation in these events had grown considerably over the decades and contributed to tourism and decentralised economic development in areas such as Buhleni and Hlane.
The King also referenced the country’s decision to reclaim the name Kingdom of Eswatini and the adoption of its own Constitution in 2005 as defining milestones in the nation’s journey.
“As a country our journey is marked by the historic decision to reclaim our name… through which we reaffirmed and entrenched our identity, heritage, unity and pride as a people,” he said.
On the economy, the King revealed that Eswatini’s GDP had grown from approximately E1.4 billion at the time of his coronation to over E95 billion today.
“At the time of my coronation, our national GDP stood at approximately 1.4 billion emalangeni. Today, it exceeds 95 billion emalangeni,” he said.
He credited the National Development Strategy, developed through broad consultations and Vusela drives, as the guiding framework behind the country’s ambition to attain first-world status. Manufacturing now accounts for roughly 40 percent of GDP, with key industries including agro-processing, textiles, sugar production and forestry.
Government empowerment programmes were also cited, among them the Regional Development Fund, which has disbursed over E1.4 billion in non-refundable support, and FINCORP, which has extended more than E10 billion in loans. Cooperative schemes now hold assets exceeding E3 billion.
The road network has expanded from about 500 kilometres in 1986 to over 2,000 kilometres, while major projects such as King Mswati III International Airport, the Royal Science and Technology Park and the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre have been completed. An International Convention Centre in Ezulwini is also in the pipeline.
Despite the progress, the King acknowledged that challenges remained. “While we celebrate this growth, we remain mindful that challenges persist… and we recommit ourselves to ensuring no one is left behind,” he said.
Turning to national unity, the King credited peace and dialogue as the country’s greatest sources of strength over the past four decades.
“Maswati, we are truly grateful that you have consistently granted me peace and dialogue, resolving challenges in the true spirit of consultation and reconciliation. That has been our greatest source of strength,” he said.
He acknowledged that the road had not always been smooth, including periods of drought, the COVID-19 pandemic and internal unrest. “Forty years have not been a straight road… we also faced internal strains that tested our cherished spirit of consultation and reconciliation,” he said, adding that emaSwati had nonetheless prevailed. “Through every trial, emaSwati did not break. We overcame.”
On foreign policy, the King reiterated Eswatini’s stance of peaceful engagement. “Our foreign policy is simple, ‘Asinasitsa we have no enemies’, and we wish to see it prevail among the entire UN family,” he said, urging global leaders to put peace above all other interests.
He closed with a call for continued unity. “Leadership is not measured by time alone, but by the legacy we build and the future we prepare,” he said. “The greatest gift a leader can receive is the trust of his people. You have given me that trust, for which I am truly grateful.”
