Gary Benham

The World Cup in South Africa is going to be a great event for the continent as a whole. That's one of the reasons the selection of South Africa as hosts was so significant - ownership of such an exciting, prestigious event was always going to be important to people in South Africa’s immediate neighbours and beyond. And amongst those, to the Swazis.  

 A small, landlocked country bordering South Africa and Mozambique, Swaziland quite rightly sees the World Cup as a real opportunity to raise its profile. Indeed, the Swazis are hoping some of our England fans will make their way to the Kingdom to discover what one of Africa's most unique countries has to offer. And there is much that is interesting. Swaziland boasts a fascinating culture and some impressive scenery. 

I visited the country in May and - before a busy working visit which included calls on a range of key contacts and a visit to a rural school - was lucky enough to have a free afternoon to spend some time in the eZulwini Valley (literally 'Place of Heaven'), Swaziland's premier tourist destination, complete with wildlife parks and nature reserves. But Swaziland also faces some serious challenges.

The most significant is the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS: Swaziland has the highest prevalence rate in the world, currently at around 26.1% among 15-49 year olds. The impact on the country, socially, economically and politically, is huge. The international community has its role here - as do the NGOs - but it was positive to see such an emphasis placed on the scourge of HIV/AIDS in Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini's 2008-13 Government Action Plan. There are other challenges too. Though officially a Middle Income Country, Swaziland has struggled to find its place economically in the region since the end of Apartheid in South Africa, and the global economic downturn hasn't made things any easier. Politically, it remains Africa's last absolute monarchy in which political parties are banned - a situation that we continue to lobby the Swazis to address, the British Government having been frank about its preference for a transition to a multiparty democracy.

Nevertheless, our bilateral relationship with Swaziland remains strong, a point noted by our High Commissioner when she presented her credentials to King Mswati in October. And the Swazis, like the English, are passionate about their football. Ok, so they've never qualified for the World Cup or even the Africa Cup of Nations (not surprising with a population of just over a million). But last year they won their first World Cup qualifier since 1992 when playing Togo. So perhaps things are looking up.