Government and Politics of Eswatini

Government Type

monarchy; independent member of Commonwealth

Administrative Divisions

4 districts; Hhohho, Lubombo, Manzini, Shiselweni

Legal System

based on South African Roman-Dutch law in statutory courts and Swazi traditional law and custom in traditional courts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage

18 years of age

Citizenship

Citizenship by birth: No Citizenship by descent only: Both parents must be citizens of Eswatini Dual citizenship recognized: No Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986) head of government: Prime Minister Russell Mmiso DLAMINI (since 6 November 2023) cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by the monarch elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the prime minister is appointed by the monarch

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Parliament or Libandla, an advisory body, consists of the Senate (30 seats — 10 appointed by the House of Assembly and 20 appointed by the monarch; members serve five-year terms) and the House of Assembly (70 seats — 10 appointed by the monarch and 59 elected by popular vote, with 1 seat reserved for the attorney general; members serve five-year terms). Elections: House of Assembly — last held on 29 September 2023 (next to be held in 2028). Election results: House of Assembly — balloting is conducted on a nonparty basis, as political parties remain banned under Eswatini's system of government. Candidates for election are nominated by the local council of each constituency, and for each constituency the three candidates with the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to a single winner by a second round. The monarch retains significant authority, including the power to appoint cabinet ministers and dissolve Parliament.

Judicial Branch

High Court; Court of Appeal; judges for both courts are appointed by the monarch

Political Parties

political parties are banned by the government under an emergency decree that will be revoked when the new constitution takes effect (January 2006)- the following are considered political associations; Imbokodvo National Movement or INM [leader NA]; Ngwane National Liberatory Congress or NNLC [Obed DLAMINI, president]; People's United Democratic Movement or PUDEMO [Mario MASUKU, president]

Head of State

King MSWATI III

Head of Government

Prime Minister Russell Mmiso DLAMINI

Cabinet

Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by the monarch

Elections

House of Assembly — last held on 29 September 2023 (next to be held in 2028).

Election Results

House of Assembly — balloting is conducted on a nonparty basis, as political parties remain banned under Eswatini's system of government. Candidates for election are nominated by the local council of each constituency, and for each constituency the three candidates with the most votes in the first round of voting are narrowed to a single winner by a second round. The monarch retains significant authority, including the power to appoint cabinet ministers and dissolve Parliament.

Constitution

none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended 12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but was not formally presented to the people; since then a few more outlines for a constitution have been compiled under the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), but so far none have been accepted

Independence

6 September 1968 (from UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 6 September (1968)

International Organization Participation

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OPCW, PCA, SACU, SADC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Ephraim Mandla HLOPHE chancery: 1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009 telephone: [1] (202) 234-5002 FAX: [1] (202) 234-8254

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Lewis LUCKE embassy: Central Bank Building, Mahlokahla Street, Mbabane mailing address: P. O. Box 199, Mbabane telephone: [268] 404-6441 through 404-6445 FAX: [268] 404-5959

Capital City

Mbabane (administrative capital); Lobamba (royal and legislative capital)

Location

26 19 S, 31 08 E

Time Difference

UTC+2 (7 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

Named after a Swati chief, Mbabane KUNENE, who lived in the area at the onset of British settlement

U.S. Embassy Mbabane Central Bank Building Mahlokohla Street P.O. Box 199 Telephone: 268-2404-6441/5 Emergency after-hours telephone: 268-7602-8414 Facsimile: 268-2404-5959

Military Branches

Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF): Ground Force (includes Air Wing (no operational aircraft))

Service Age and Obligation

18-30 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; compulsory HIV testing required, only HIV-negative applicants accepted