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Mbabane the Capital of Swaziland

Three years after the birth of King Sobuza Ii in July 1899 a special Commissioner with a force of the South African Constabulary rode into Swaziland from the Transvaal. Their mission, to annex the Protectorate of Swaziland in the name of King Edward VII of England and to establish an Administration. The Place known as Embabaan was chosen as the seat for the administration, mainly because of its high altitude and therfor mild climate. Bremersdorp (now Manzini) the seat of the administration under the Boer, was not regarded as healty for horse or man by the British it beeing in the hot lowveld. Embabaan had not much to offer, only a few scattered buildings existid; there was a spablery for the mail -cart and a certain Bombadier Wells had set up a hostelry in 1888, the first Hotel (located about there were the City inn is today ), then there was the residence of the manager of Swaziland Tin Limited( this house still stands today ), a store near and some other isolated buildings, and a cattle Stastion of King Mbanzeni, this royal cattle station was were today the industrial site is situated. In 1902 Mbabane was established as the seat of the then British administration of Swaziland. Many old residents started to establish themselfs in the Mbabne area. Amoungst them Mr. Allister M. Miller who, was borne in the area of Mbabane, and his family after whom the main street of Mbabane was later named. A Post Office was established at the end of 1902 with a telegraphic link to Baberton, Johannesburg and other nearby Transvaal towns. Regular mail-cart service was introduced in 1903 and in 1905 a mail coach with enclosed passenger accommodation was introduced on the rout between Breyten and Mbabne. The journey from Breyton to Mbabane, about 130 km, took over 24 hours with the last stop bevore Mbabne beeing at Darkton stores ( Darkton stores still exists today) in Ngwenya. The journey from Mbabane to Manzini took at least a day with tree rivers to cross.( No bridges) In April 1907 Swaziland got its own Police Force and Col. C.H. Gillson was appointed the first commissioner and stationed in Mbabne. Most of the S.A.Constabulary remained in Swaziland as members of the Swaziland Police force. A mounted rifle brigade was formed from members of the Mbabne Polo club and served in South West Africa with a strong contingent of Swazi national volonteers during the war 1914-1918. In 1921 Sobhuza II was installed as King of Swaziland (or as the British prefered top say paramount chief he was only recognised as King of the Swazi nation in the 1966) Under the rule of King Sobhuza II numerous atemts were made at regaining the rights to land and minerals which were lost under Mbanzeni and Ngwane V.

Allister Miller Street 1920 ------------- -------------- Allister Miller Street 1968

click on the Map of Mbabane to see a more detailed edition