Cultural bonanzas are being staged across the kingdom of Eswatini in celebrations of 40 years of rule of King Mswati III.

Regional leaders and royal guests are signing up to join in the King’s milestone in the kingdom that shares borders with South Africa and Mozambique.

Among those confirmed to have attended were President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe, President Daniel Chapo of Mozambique, and King Letsie III of Lesotho. Former South African president Jacob Zuma also participated in the celebrations.

Additional leaders were reported to have been invited or represented through delegations, including officials from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC), highlighting the event’s regional diplomatic significance. The gathering also coincided with broader cultural ceremonies marking the king’s 58th birthday and four decades of rule.

The celebrations featured traditional performances, state receptions, and public ceremonies attended by thousands, with King Mswati III addressing unity and continuity during his reign.

The event underscored Eswatini’s ongoing role in regional diplomacy, while also serving as a major cultural and political gathering in Southern Africa, according to local media reports.