Kabir, HumayunGwebu, Aaron2025-09-012025-09-012018http://hdl.handle.net/11070/4098A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Business Administration (Management Strategy)In the socio-economic sphere, culture has become one of the influences or determinants of the same. Depending on the living environment, culture has tended to be either a resource or an impediment of socio-economic development (SED). The purpose of this study is to investigate existing cultures influencing SED in the Kingdom of Swaziland (KOS). The sequential mixed-method approach was used because the study entailed identifying and evaluating different cultures and their influence on SED, something that required both qualitative and quantitative studies. Traditional leaders, constituency heads and development practitioners were used as sample data for the study, where stratified sampling was employed in order to accommodate the diverse groups. Results of the study indicate that cultural influence is most prevalent in the rural communities, while the adoption of the new national constitution (NC) in 2005 brought an insignificant change in the way culture influences SED. Encompassed in the purpose of the study is also the exploration of possible ways to mitigate the adverse or stimulate the commendatory aspects of such influences without undermining or overlooking social elements of both cultural and national identity in the Kingdom. From the findings of the study, it was noted that cultural governance, cultural tourism, customs and traditions, gender discrimination and marginalisation of people living with disabilities are the main existing components relating to the area of the central phenomenon. To validate the authenticity of these, spin-offs such as employment, economic inequality, self sustainability and service delivery were used. Further findings, supported by empirical evidence, indicate that culture in the Kingdom is largely epitomised by the existence of the Monarchy authority, as a wide range of norms, beliefs, customs and traditions are entrenched in the core values of same. This infers that the KOS is predominated by socio-cultural values, which necessitates a telling influence on SED issues. A major recommendation would be the formulation of constitutionalised legislation with domesticated regulations and policies that will seek to balance the values and systems of culture with those of socio-economic development.enSocio-economic development (SED)Kingdom of SwazilandCultureNamibiaUniversity of NamibiaThesis