Current Time in Manzini
Eswatini's culture regarding time
Eswatini's culture regarding time
Flexible regarding time
Eswatini has a sense of time called "African time", and delays of a few minutes to a few tens of minutes are common and are not considered a big problem.
Social events do not often start on time
The start times of ceremonial occasions and local events are only guidelines, and in reality they often start more than an hour late.
Public institutions start time relatively accurate
Official institutions such as government agencies and schools tend to stick to start times of 8 or 9 o'clock. However, end times can be flexible.
Eswatini's values regarding time
How people use time with an emphasis on connections with others
Eswatini has a deep-rooted idea that "people are more important than time", and people tend to value face-to-face relationships and conversations more than appointment times.
Living in accordance with the rhythm of nature
In areas where agriculture and livestock farming are common, many people live in a rhythm close to natural time, starting their activities at sunrise and resting at sunset.
A culture that positively regards slow life
There are many situations where it is more important to proceed at a slow pace and carefully rather than rushing.
Things about time that foreigners should know when traveling or relocating to Eswatini
Leave ample time for meetings and appointments
Even business meetings and private appointments may not start on time. It is necessary to manage your schedule with ample time.
Consider transportation times as a guideline
Buses and minibuses (combi) do not operate on a set schedule, and many of them depart as soon as they have enough passengers, so you may not be able to travel as planned.
It is safe to use banks and government offices early in the morning
Public counter operations are generally smoothest in the morning. It tends to be crowded in the afternoon, and system malfunctions can delay procedures.
Interesting trivia about time in Eswatini
Kingdom ceremonies are a prime example of ignoring time
Even if traditional events hosted by the King or royal ceremonies have a scheduled time, the start depends on the King's appearance. It is not uncommon for the start to be delayed by several hours.
Weddings are not just one-day events
Traditional weddings in Eswatini can take place over several days, and the flow of the ceremony is more important than the exact start time.
Knowing the time by church bells on Sunday mornings
In many homes, church bells ring instead of an alarm clock, and in some areas, this is the signal to start the day. It is a culture where you feel time by sound, not by clock.