THE REGIONS OF SWAZILAND
At Independence in 1968, Swaziland was divided into the four regions
of Hhohho, Manzini, Lubombo and Shiselweni (see centre fold map).
These regions are distinct from the four geographical zones based
on altitude and vegetation, which run from west to east and vary in
altitude from 1800 to 400 metres above sea level. They comprise the
mountainous Highveld to the west with a temperate climate; the
subtropical Middleveld at a lower level and the Lowveld to the east,
which is also subtropical. The furthest eastern zone runs along the
Lubombo Mountains, which form Swaziland’s border with
Mozambique.
The regions of Hhohhho and Shiselweni are named after old royal
homesteads in these areas, Manzini is the name of Swaziland’s largest
town, while Lubombo is named after the flat-topped range of
mountains that run from north to south on the kingdom’s eastern
border.
The boundaries were designed so that each region would have at
least one sizeable town to serve as an administrative centre. Thus
Hhohho, Manzini, Lubombo and Shiselweni are respectively served
by Mbabane, Manzini, Siteki and Hlathikhulu.
Nhlangano has superceded Hlathikhulu in size and importance in
terms of employment, commercial output and services, while in the
Lubombo Region, Big Bend and Simunye, the ‘company towns’
serving the vast sugar estates, are today much larger than Siteki.