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{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Mbabane
| settlement_type = [[Capital city]] ([[Executive (government)|executive branch]])
| image_skyline      = City overview.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Panoramic view of Mbabane
| pushpin_map        = Eswatini#Africa
| pushpin_relief = yes
| mapsize            = 300px
| map_caption        = Location of Mbabane in [[Eswatini]]
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{flag|Eswatini}}
| subdivision_type1  = District
| subdivision_name1  = [[Hhohho District|Hhohho]]
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1902
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Vusi Tembe
| coordinates        = {{coord|26|19|34|S|31|08|38|E|region:SZ|display=inline}}
| area_total_km2     = 81.76
| population_as_of   = 2010
| population_total   = 94874
| population_density_km2 = auto
| elevation_m        = 1243
| postal_code_type   = Postal code
| postal_code        = H100
| blank_name         = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info         = [[Oceanic climate#Subtropical highland variety (Cfb, Cwb)|Cwb]]
| website            = {{URL|http://www.mbabane.org.sz/}}
| image_flag         = 
| timezone = [[South African Standard Time|SAST]]
| utc_offset = +02:00
}}

'''Mbabane''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|ʌ|m|b|ɑː|ˈ|b|ɑː|n|eɪ}}) is the most populous city in [[Eswatini]] (previously called Swaziland), and is one of the two [[Capital (political)|capitals]] (along with [[Lobamba]]), serving as the [[Executive (government)|executive]] capital.

It has an estimated population of 94,874 (2010). It is located on the [[Mbabane River]] and its tributary the [[Polinjane River]] in the [[Mdimba|Mdzimba Mountains]]. It is located in the [[Hhohho District|Hhohho]] Region, of which it is also the [[Capital city|capital]]. The average elevation of the city is 1,243 meters. It lies on the [[MR3 road]].

==History==

The town grew after the nation's [[administrative centre]] moved from [[Bremersdorp]] (now called Manzini) in january of 1902.<ref>Britannica,
[https://www.britannica.com/place/Mbabane Mbabane], britannica.com, USA, accessed on June 30, 2019</ref> It derives its name from a chief, Mbabane Kunene, who lived in the area when some [[1820 Settlers|British settlers]] arrived.

Mbabane was founded in 1887 by Mickey Wells, on the spot where the Transvaal-to-Mozambique route crossed the Mbabane river. It was declared the capital of the new [[History of Swaziland|Protectorate of Swaziland]] in 1902. During this time, Mbabane consisted of a few shops, churches and schools founded by white settlers. Black Africans were not allowed to live in the town and had to reside in nearby rural districts.<ref name="Scott1951">{{cite journal|last1=Scott|first1=Peter|title=Land Policy and the Native Population of Swaziland|journal=The Geographical Journal|volume=117|issue=4|year=1951|pages=435–447|issn=0016-7398|doi=10.2307/1790685|jstor=1790685}}</ref> By the 1930s, Mbabane had [[electricity]], running water, telephone connection and a [[hospital]].{{cn|date=January 2025}}

Prior to WW2, most Swazis lived in rural districts and worked outside [[Eswatini]], which prevented the town from growing. After the war, the creation of trade schools in the city, the arrival of the [[Goba railway]] connecting [[Maputo]] to the mines in South Africa and Lesotho, and foreign investment resources within Eswatini (particularly sugar) all contributed to the city's growth.{{cn|date=January 2025}} Mbabane became the central hub for development in [[Hhohho]].

In the years following independence, governmental buildings such as the British Consulate were built in Mbabane. Further growth has been achieved through the growth of the [[Tourism in Eswatini|tourism industry in Eswatini]], of which Mbabane has become the centre. Mbabane today is home to hotels and recreational sites such as clubs and golf courses tending to tourists.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Brooms|first1=Derrick|title=Mbabane, Swaziland (1887- )|url=http://www.swazilandhappenings.co.za/mbabanehomepage.htm|website=BlackPast.org|access-date=10 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908004220/http://www.blackpast.org/gah/mbabane-swaziland-1887|archive-date=8 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=MBABANE INFORMATION AND HISTORY|url=http://www.swazilandhappenings.co.za/mbabanehomepage.htm|website=eSwatini Happenings|access-date=10 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180510125529/http://www.swazilandhappenings.co.za/mbabanehomepage.htm|archive-date=10 May 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Abacus Backpackers Mbabane Swaziland.jpg|thumb|right|View of Mbabane]]
Mbabane is located in the district of Hhohho, of which it is also the capital, and lies on the [[Mbabane River]] and its tributary the [[Polinjane River]] in the [[Mdzimba|Mdzimba Mountains]]. The average elevation of the city is 1,243 metres. Neighbourhoods and suburbs include [[Mbangweni]], Sidvwashini, Kent Rock, Sandla, Westridge Park, Malunge, New Checkers, Msunduza and Vukutentele.

=== Climate ===
Due to its altitude, Mbabane features a moderate [[subtropical highland climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]'': Cwb''). The city has a mild climate and snow is a rare event, occurring only three times since 1900.<ref name="STB snow">{{cite web|title=Mbabane|url=http://www.thekingdomofswaziland.com/pages/attractions/the_attraction.asp?AttractionsID=12|website=The Kingdom of Swaziland: A Royal Experience|publisher=Swaziland Tourist Board|access-date=7 March 2018}}</ref> The city averages only four days of frost a year. The average temperature is {{convert|11|°C|0}} in July and {{convert|22|°C|0}} in January.<ref>''The Cambridge Factfinder''; 4th ed.</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://en.climate-data.org/africa/suazilandia/sifundza-sehhohho/mbabane-2190/|title=Mbabane climate: Average Temperature, weather by month, Mbabane weather averages - Climate-Data.org|website=en.climate-data.org|access-date=2019-02-15}}</ref> The thermal range is low, but the winter night is cold for a [[Subtropics|subtropical climate]] in general. Most of the precipitation is concentrated in the summer. The difference in the driest month (June) and the wettest (January) is 210&nbsp;mm.<ref name=":0" />

{{Weather box
|width = auto
|location = Mbabane (1961-1990 normals, extremes 1957-1977)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan high C = 24.9
|Feb high C = 24.5
|Mar high C = 24.1
|Apr high C = 22.6
|May high C = 21.4
|Jun high C = 19.3
|Jul high C = 19.8
|Aug high C = 21.3
|Sep high C = 23.2
|Oct high C = 22.8
|Nov high C = 22.5
|Dec high C = 23.7
|year high C =
|Jan mean C = 19.9
|Feb mean C = 19.5
|Mar mean C = 18.8
|Apr mean C = 16.8
|May mean C = 14.7
|Jun mean C = 12.0
|Jul mean C = 12.2
|Aug mean C = 14.0
|Sep mean C = 16.4
|Oct mean C = 17.1
|Nov mean C = 17.7
|Dec mean C = 19.0
|year mean C = 
|Jan low C = 14.9
|Feb low C = 14.5
|Mar low C = 13.4
|Apr low C = 11.0
|May low C = 7.9
|Jun low C = 4.7
|Jul low C = 4.6
|Aug low C = 6.6
|Sep low C = 9.5
|Oct low C = 11.3
|Nov low C = 12.9
|Dec low C = 14.2
|year low C =
|Jan record high C = 33.4
|Feb record high C = 32.2
|Mar record high C = 33.5
|Apr record high C = 31.0
|May record high C = 29.4
|Jun record high C = 26.8
|Jul record high C = 28.6
|Aug record high C = 31.2
|Sep record high C = 33.6
|Oct record high C = 34.2
|Nov record high C = 34.5
|Dec record high C = 32.4
|Jan record low C = 8.6
|Feb record low C = 6.4
|Mar record low C = 6.0
|Apr record low C = 3.4
|May record low C = -1.3
|Jun record low C = -4.5
|Jul record low C = -6.1
|Aug record low C = -2.5
|Sep record low C = -1.0
|Oct record low C = -1.0
|Nov record low C = 5.5
|Dec record low C = 6.6
|rain colour = green
|Jan rain mm = 253.2
|Feb rain mm = 224.6
|Mar rain mm = 151.6
|Apr rain mm = 87.9
|May rain mm = 33.8
|Jun rain mm = 19.4
|Jul rain mm = 20.1
|Aug rain mm = 35.1
|Sep rain mm = 69.4
|Oct rain mm = 141.9
|Nov rain mm = 197.8
|Dec rain mm = 206.9
|year rain mm = 
|Jan rain days = 16.9
|Feb rain days = 14.3
|Mar rain days = 13.8
|Apr rain days = 9.8
|May rain days = 5.1
|Jun rain days = 2.8
|Jul rain days = 3.1
|Aug rain days = 6.5
|Sep rain days = 9.2
|Oct rain days = 14.9
|Nov rain days = 17.0
|Dec rain days = 16.5
|year rain days =
|Jan sun = 172.7
|Feb sun = 162.1
|Mar sun = 194.6
|Apr sun = 195.2
|May sun = 226.0
|Jun sun = 233.0
|Jul sun = 238.9
|Aug sun = 246.3
|Sep sun = 209.2
|Oct sun = 178.4
|Nov sun = 160.9
|Dec sun = 170.1
|year sun = 2387.1
|Jan percentsun = 41
|Feb percentsun = 45
|Mar percentsun = 52
|Apr percentsun = 57
|May percentsun = 68
|Jun percentsun = 75
|Jul percentsun = 73
|Aug percentsun = 72
|Sep percentsun = 59
|Oct percentsun = 45
|Nov percentsun = 40
|Dec percentsun = 40
|year percentsun = 55
|source 1 = WMO<ref name=WMO >{{cite web
| url = http://worldweather.wmo.int/en/city.html?cityId=912
| title = World Weather Information Service – Mbabane
| publisher = [[World Meteorological Organization]]
| access-date = 21 December 2015}}</ref> 
|source 2 = NOAA (extremes, sunshine 1970-1975)<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://library.noaa.gov/Collections/Digital-Docs/Foreign-Climate-Data/South-Africa-Climate-Data
| title = South Africa Climatological Data
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| access-date = January 24, 2023}}</ref> 
}}

== Economy ==
[[File:Swaziland - Portable market hut in Mbabane.jpg|thumb|right|Portable market hut in Mbabane, 1979]]
Mbabane's closest border crossing to [[South Africa]] is [[Ngwenya]]-[[Oshoek]], and though [[Swazi language|siSwati]] is the primary language, [[English language|English]] is widespread. Mbabane, and Eswatini itself, depend on tourism and [[sugar]] exports.{{cn|date=January 2025}} It is also a commercial hub for the surrounding region, while [[tin]] and [[iron]] were mined nearby. The city has two sites for light industries.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

The financial service sector in Mbabane is also a key driver of economic growth, providing a wide array of services such as banking, investment management, and insurance, The continuous growth of the financial services sector in Mbabane has positioned the city as a key financial hub in the region, contributing to the overall economic progress of Eswatini.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rume |first=Allison |date=2023-01-23 |title=Mbabane: Discover Mbabane, Capital of Swaziland |url=https://www.lonelyafrica.com/discover-mbabane/ |access-date=2023-04-21 |website=Lonely Africa |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Culture ==
[[Indingilizi Gallery]] is an art gallery in Mbabane, established in 1982 and showcases a range of Swazi art, including [[sculpture]]s, [[painting]]s, [[batik]]s, [[mohair]], ethnic jewellery and pottery.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swaziplace.com/indinglizi/index.html|title=Indingilizi Gallery|publisher=Swaziplace.com|access-date=21 March 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130707002313/http://www.swaziplace.com/indinglizi/index.html|archive-date=7 July 2013}}</ref>

== Places of worship ==
Among the [[places of worship]], there are predominantly [[Christianity|Christian]] churches: [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Manzini]] ([[Catholic Church]]), [[Swaziland Reformed Church]] ([[World Communion of Reformed Churches]]), [[Zion Christian Church]].<ref>Britannica,
[https://www.britannica.com/place/Eswatini Eswatini], britannica.com, USA, accessed on July 7, 2019</ref> There are also [[Islam|Muslim]] mosques.

==Healthcare==
*[[Young Heroes (organization)]] (2006)<ref>{{cite web | url =https://www.peacecorps.gov/eswatini/partners/ | title =Eswatini - Partners | publisher =Peace Corps | access-date =2019-06-25 }}</ref>

==Education==
Mbabane is the home of the [[Waterford Kamhlaba|Waterford-Kamhlaba]] [[United World College]] of Southern Africa, as well as one of the three campuses of the [[University of Eswatini]]. [[Limkokwing University of Creative Technology]] is a private international university that lies by the South African-Eswatini border.

== Notable people ==
* [[Mark Easter]] – former rugby union footballer
* [[Lindiwe Sisulu]] – South African politician
* [[Richard E. Grant]] – actor
* [[Matthew Parris]] – British political writer and broadcaster
* [[George Getzel Cohen]] – founded Harry's Angels
* [[G. W. Reynolds]] – South African optometrist and authority on the genus ''Aloe''
* [[Anna Livia (author)|Anna Livia]] – lesbian feminist author and linguist
* [[Noma Dumezweni]] – South African-British actress
* [[Dennis Masina]] – former footballer 
* [[Sibusiso Dlamini]] – footballer
* [[Sibusiso Dlamini]] – Swazi princess and politician
* [[Cobie Legrange]] – South African professional golfer
* [[Christopher Watts]] – Anglican bishop
* [[Maurice S. Parker]] – footballer
* [[Ian Khama]] – fourth President of the Republic of Botswana
* [[Modison Salayedvwa Magagula]] – Swazi novelist, educator, playwright, poet and short-story author
* [[Ndumiso Mamba]] – former minister of justice in Swaziland
* [[Yvette Christiansë]] – South African-born poet and novelist
* [[Lucas Mlambo]] – Swazi painter
* [[Lucas Macie]] – Mozambiquan-Swazi painter
* [[Darren Christie]] – Liswati footballer
* [[Chakyl Camal]] – Australian-Mozambican Entrepreneur, swimmer 
* [[Jani Simulambo]] – former Zambian footballer and coach 
* [[John Ddumba Ssentamu]] – Ugandan economist, academic and banker
* [[Lisa de la Motte]] – Swazi former swimmer
* [[Gcinile Moyane]] – retired Swazi sprinter
* [[Jama Mahlalela]] – Swazi-Canadian basketball coach
* [[John de la Hay Gordon]] – British army officer, administrator and diplomat
* [[Michael S. Hoza]] – American diplomat
* [[David Gresham]] – South African independent record producer, publisher, promoter, and radio and television personality
* [[Cleopas Dlamini]] – prime minister of Eswatini from 2021 to 2023
* [[Nobuhle Dlamini]] – professional golfer 
* [[Neville Markham]] – South African cricketer 
* [[Veronica Sentongo]] – Ugandan telecommunications and electrical engineer
* [[John Macmillan (actor)|John Macmillan]] – British actor

==Twin towns – sister cities==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Africa#Swaziland|l1=List of twin towns and sister cities in Eswatini}}

Mbabane is [[Sister city|twinned]] with:
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Fort Worth, Texas|Fort Worth]], Texas, US<ref name=SCI>{{cite web|title=Mbabane|url=http://www.sister-cities.org/interactive-map/Mbabane,%20Swaziland|work=[[Sister Cities International]]|access-date=11 April 2014}}</ref> 
*{{flagicon|ROC}} [[Taipei]], Taiwan<ref name="Taipei twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://web.tcc.gov.tw/eng/sister_cities.htm|title=Taipei - International Sister Cities|access-date=2013-08-23|work=Taipei City Council | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121102035422/http://web.tcc.gov.tw/eng/sister_cities.htm|archive-date=2012-11-02}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|ROC}} [[Kaohsiung]], Taiwan<ref name="Kaohsiung twinnings">{{cite web|url=https://aia.kcg.gov.tw/siscity-11343-sistercitytw|title=Kaohsiung - International Sister Cities|access-date=2024-05-01|work=Kaohsiung City Government| archive-url =http://web.archive.org/web/20240501074316/https://aia.kcg.gov.tw/siscity-11343-sistercitytw|archive-date=2024-05-01}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|MAS}} [[Mersing]], Malaysia
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Melilla]], Spain
*{{flagicon|MOZ}} [[Maputo]], Mozambique<ref name=IR>{{cite web|title=Maputo|url=http://www.mbabane.org.sz/international%20relations.htm|work=[[Tourism in Swaziland]]|access-date=2015-03-17}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |title=Encyclopedia of Twentieth-Century African History |editor1= Paul Tiyambe Zeleza |editor-link= Paul Tiyambe Zeleza |editor2= Dickson Eyoh |publisher=Routledge |isbn=0415234794 |year=2003 
|chapter= Mbabane, Swaziland
}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Wikivoyage-inline}}

{{List of African capitals}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|26|19|S|31|08|E|region:SZ_type:city|display=title}}

[[Category:Mbabane| ]]
[[Category:Capitals in Africa]]
[[Category:Populated places in Hhohho Region]]
[[Category:1902 establishments in Africa]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1902]]