Editing Mbabane (section)

==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>