The National Monuments of Eswatini, in Southern Africa, are proclaimed in accordance with the National Trust Commission Act, 1972.[1] The same act saw the establishment of the Swaziland National Trust Commission.[1] The Commission, a parastatal of the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, is charged with the protection and promotion of the country's cultural heritage.[2] [3] As of May 2012, three National Monuments have been proclaimed with a number of candidate sites for future proclamation under examination.[3] Swaziland ratified the UNESCO World Heritage Convention in 2006; the Ngwenya Mines have been submitted for inscription and are currently on the Tentative List.[4] [5]
Three National Monuments have been proclaimed under the current system:[6] [7]
| Site | Location | Date | Comments | Coordinates | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mantojolo Pool | sacred to Mnisis clan | |||||
| Tree under which King Bhunu was investigated | 1898 | "murder enquiry" for killing a chief | ||||
| Site of Captain Gilson's House |
A further twenty-nine sites have been identified as potential National Monuments:[8]
| Site | Location | Date | Comments | Coordinates | Image | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allister Miller's House | ||||||
| Mbabane Well, old bus rank | ||||||
| Deputy Prime Minister's Offices and neighbouring building | ||||||
| Commandant's Residence (at Zakhele) | oldest building in Manzini | |||||
| Second Legco Building, Mbabane Magistrate's Court | ||||||
| Notting Hill Mine Battery | ||||||
| Phophonyane Water Wheel | ||||||
| Swaziland National Office | ||||||
| Mahamba Church | oldest church in Swaziland | |||||
| Lamgangeni's Burial Site | ||||||
| Prince Fanyana Memorial Library | ||||||
| Mabuda Estates farm house | ||||||
| Khambi's stone | Entfonjeni | |||||
| Lion Cavern | early mine | |||||
| Sibebe Rock | Mbuluzi River valley | |||||
| Emgwayiza | ||||||
| Mehluko Hill | old fortress | |||||
| Manzamnyama Falls near Zombodze II (site of Royal ceremony) | ||||||
| Mahamba Gorge | ||||||
| Disused gold mines | c.1880-1920s | including Piggs Peak mine | ||||
| Caves used by Swazi during wars | ||||||
| Great Usuthu (Lusuthu) Gorge | ||||||
| Sites of the oldest Royal Residences | ||||||
| Stone-built remains of Sotho-speaking clans | ||||||
| Endzeleni | Ngwemphisi Valley | rock formations | ||||
| "Oldest farm house" | ||||||
| Balekane Mountain Fortress | ||||||
| Khubuta Mines | ||||||
| Von Steinacher's fort |