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EMBASSY/CONSULATE ADDRESSES

Diplomatic Representation in US:
Ambassador: Abednigo Mandla Ntshangase
Embassy: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington DC 20009
Telephone: [1] (202) 234-5002
Fax: [1] (202) 234-8254

US Diplomatic Representation:
Chief of Mission: Earl M. Irving
Embassy: Central Bank Building, Warner Street, Mbabane
Mailing Address: 7th floor Central Bank Building, Warner St., Box 199, Mbabane, Swaziland
Telephone: [268] 404-6441/5
Fax: [268] 404-1695

Swazi Embassies and Consulates around the World

Belgium/European Union
Rue Joseph II, 71 - 5th Floor
PO Box 8 B-10
Brussels
Tel: (32-2) 230 00 44

Canada
130 Albert Street
Ottawa, Ontario
Tel: (613) 567-1480
Fax: (613) 567-1058

Denmark
KasTelsvej 19
2100 Copenhagen
Tel: (45) 42 61 11
Fax: (45) 42 63 00

Kenya/East Africa
Silo Park House, Mama Ngina Street
PO Box 41887
Nairobi
Tel: (254-2) 339 231

Mozambique
Av. do Zimbabwe 608
PO Box 4711
Maputo
Tel: (258-1) 492 451
Fax: (258-1) 492 117

South Africa
9th Floor, 165 Jeppe Street
PO Box 8030
Johannesburg 2000
Tel: (27-11) 299 776
Fax: (27-11) 299 763

United Kingdom
58 Pont Street
London SW1
Tel: (44-171) 581-4976

United Nations
866 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
Tel: (212) 371-8910
Fax: (212) 654-2755

Embassy and Consulate Web Sites for Swaziland

U.S. Embassy Web Site in Swaziland
Embassy of Swaziland in Washington DC


FOREIGN RELATIONS

U.S.-SWAZILAND RELATIONS

The United States and Swaziland have had good bilateral relations since Swaziland's independence from the United Kingdom in 1968 as a constitutional monarchy. Five years after independence, Swaziland's ruler, King Sobhuza II, repealed the constitution. Sobhuza II ruled by decree until 2006, when the country implemented its first constitution in over 30 years. U.S. policy seeks to maintain and strengthen bilateral relations, and stresses Swaziland's continued political and economic reform.

U.S. Assistance to Swaziland

Swaziland ranks as a lower middle income country, but it is estimated that 69% of the population lives in poverty. Most of the high-level economic activity is in the hands of non-Africans, but ethnic Swazis are becoming more active. The U.S. supports health promotion and health systems strengthening, entrepreneurship, youth development and education, security sector capacity building, and trade promotion in Swaziland.

Swaziland is struggling to mitigate the world’s highest prevalence rates of HIV and TB. Twenty-six percent of Swaziland’s adult population (aged 15-49) is infected with HIV, while prevalence amongst pregnant women attending antenatal care facilities stands at a staggering 41 percent. In 2009, the U.S. and Swaziland signed the second-ever Partnership Framework Agreement under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The agreement is a five-year joint program strategy to strengthen, scale up, and sustain key components of the HIV response and the overall health sector capacity. Through PEPFAR support, Swaziland’s Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) program now reaches approximately 70 percent of the eligible population; 85 percent of pregnant women attending antenatal care sites are reached with prevention of mother-to-child transmission services; and male circumcision prevalence has increased to over 20 percent since U.S. began supporting the program in 2008. The two countries also have finalized a memorandum of understanding expanding the Peace Corps mission's HIV/AIDS-focused duties to include education capacity-building activities such as computer-skills training, life-skills support, and teacher training.

The U.S. Government brings about six Swazi professionals to the United States each year, from both the public and private sectors, primarily for master's degrees, and about six others for 3-week to 4-week International Visitor programs. Through the security assistance program, the U.S. brings approximately 25 members of the Swazi security forces to the United States for education and training purposes. The United States also supports Swazi participation in regionally based training and capacity-building programs, such as at the International Law Enforcement Academy in Gaborone, Botswana.

Bilateral Economic Relations

Swaziland is eligible for preferential trade benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The country belongs to the Southern African Customs Union, which has signed a Trade, Investment, and Development Cooperative Agreement (TIDCA) with the United States. The TIDCA establishes a forum for consultative discussions, cooperative work, and possible agreements on a wide range of trade issues, with a special focus on customs and trade facilitation, technical barriers to trade, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and trade and investment promotion. Swaziland also is a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, which has a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the United States.

Swaziland's Membership in International Organizations

Swaziland and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization.

Bilateral Representation

The U.S. Ambassador to Swaziland is Earl M. Irving; other principal embassy officials are listed in the Department's Key Officers List.

Swaziland maintains an embassy in the United States at 1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009 (tel: 202-234-5002).

More information about Swaziland is available from the Department of State and other sources, some of which are listed here:

Department of State Swaziland Page
Department of State Key Officers List
CIA World Factbook Swaziland Page
U.S. Embassy: Swaziland
USAID Swaziland Page
History of U.S. Bilateral Relations
Human Rights Reports
International Religious Freedom Reports
Trafficking in Persons Reports
Narcotics Control Reports
Investment Climate Statements
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative Countries Page
U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Statistics
Export.gov International Offices Page
Travel and Business Information




TRAVEL ADVISORIES

To obtain the latest Travel Advisory Information for Swaziland check the U.S. State Department Consular Information Sheet.


TRAVEL TIPS

Driving TBA
Currency (SZL) Lilangeni
Electrical     230 Volts
Telephones Country Code 268, City Code, Nhlangano 207+4D, Hlathikulu 217+4D, Hluthi 227+4D



Business Hours:
Office and shop hours are usually 08h00 - 13h00 and 14h00 - 1700 Mondays to Fridays. Bank hours are 18h30 - 14h30 Mondays to Fridays and some banks, 08h30 - 11h00 on Saturdays. Post offices are open 08h00 - 16h00 Mondays to Fridays and 08h00 - 11h00 on Saturdays.

Clothing:
Year round, the ladies will need summer dresses, skirts, slacks, and blouses. In the evening on the Highveld and during the winter months (May to September) a sweater is necessary. Gentlemen wear lightweight lounge suits, slacks and sportcoats, safari suits with either long or short trousers, and shorts and casual shirts. During the evening, at smart hotels and restaurants, gentlemen are expected to wear a jacket and a tie. Formal evening dress is seldom worn unless visitors are attending a gala function or elegant private dinner party.

Currency:
Lilangeni (singular) or Emalangeni (plural) and cents is the currency of Swaziland. It is of equal value to the South African rand and cents and both currencies are in circulation. The traveler is advised to change Emalangeni back to his own currency before leaving Swaziland as it is part of the Rand monetary area. There is no currency controls at border posts and no limit to the amount of currency a traveler may carry. All acceptable credit cards and travelers cheques are honoured in Swaziland.

Electricity:
Electric current is supplied at 220 volts AC 50Hz and 15 amp round-pin wall sockets are used.

Local Time:
Swaziland is at GMT +2hours. Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom are one hour behind Swaziland. The United States (Eastern) is 7 hours behind and the USA (Pacific) 10 hours behind. Hong Kong is 6 hours ahead and Sydney, Australia, 7 1/2 hours ahead.

Tipping:
Service charges are not normally levied as a percentage on bills, but 10% is a useful guide.

Key Phrases:
(greeting) Sanibonani! "Good day!"

(response) Yebo! "Yes good day!"

(greeting) Ninjani? "How are you?"

(response) Sikhona, ninjani nine? "We are well how are you?"

(response) Natsi sikhona! "We also are well"

(question) likuphi lihovisi leti vakashi? "Where is the tourist office?"

(appreciation) Siyabonga "We thank you"

(appreciation) Ngiyabonga "I thank you"

(farewell) Salakahle "Stay well"

(farewell) Hambakahle "Go well"


CUSTOMS/DUTIES

TOBACCO..........400 Cigarettes and 50 Cigars and 250g of Tobacco

LIQUOR.............1 Bottle (750ML)

PERFUME..........50ML of Perfume and 250ML Eau De Toilette

CAMERAS..........Must Be Declared On Arrival

FILM..................Reasonable For Personal Use

CURRENCY........No Restrictions

GIFTS................No Restrictions



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