Politics
Contents
Political structure
- Official name: Kingdom of eSwatini
- Form of state: Absolute monarchy
Legal system
- Parallel systems of Roman-Dutch and customary law
National legislature
A bicameral parliament; the House of Assembly is elected through the tinkhundla electoral system, which has three stages: nomination, primary election and secondary election; a secret ballot is conducted for the final two stages; the Assembly has 55 elected members and ten royal appointees; the Senate consists of 30 members, 20 of them royal appointees and ten selected by the Assembly; the king may legislate by decree; a new constitution containing a number of small changes to the political system came into effect in 2006
National elections
- Most recent parliamentary election was in September 2018
- Next election is scheduled for September 2023
Head of state
- Monarch – succession governed by custom
National government
- The monarch and his cabinet;
- Following the parliamentary election in September 2018, Ambrose Dlamini was named as prime minister in October, and a cabinet was appointed in November
Political parties
Political parties are not allowed to put up candidates for elections under the tinkhundla (traditional voting) system; the leading progressive political party, the People’s United Democratic Movement, has been banned under the Suppression of Terrorism Act since November 2008
The government
- Monarch: King Mswati III
- Prime minister: Ambrose Dlamini
- Deputy prime minister: Themba Masuku
- Key ministers
- Agriculture: Jabulani Mabuza
- Commerce & trade: Manqoba Khumalo
- Economic planning & development: Tambo Gina
- Education & training: Lady Howard-Mabuza
- Finance: Neal Rijkenberg
- Foreign affairs & international co-operation: Thuli Dladla
- Health: Lizzie Nkosi
- Home affairs: Princess Lindiwe
- Housing & urban development: Prince Simelane
- Information, communication & technology: Princess Sikhanyiso
- Justice & constitutional affairs: Pholile Shakantu
- Labour & social security: Makhosi Vilakati
- Natural resources & energy: Peter Bhembe
- Public service: Christian Ntshangase
- Public works & transport: Chief Ndlaluhlaza Ndwandwe
- Sports & youth affairs: Harries Madze Bulunga
- Tinkhundla administration & development: David Cruiser Ngcamphalala
- Tourism & environmental affairs: Moses Vilakati
Central bank governor
- Majozi Sithole
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