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Swaziland - Government and Political Conditions (Notes)

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS On July 26, 2005 King Mswati III ratified Swaziland?s constitution. It went into effect February 8, 2006. This is Swaziland?s first constitution in over 30 years. According to Swazi law and custom, the monarch holds supreme executive, legislative, and judicial powers. In general practice, however, the monarch's power is delegated through a dualistic system: modern, statutory bodies, like the cabinet; and less formal traditional government structures. The king must approve legislation passed by parliament before it becomes law. The prime minister, who is head of government, and the cabinet, which is recommended by the prime minister and approved by the king, exercise executive authority. At present, parliament consists of a 65-seat House of Assembly (55 members are elected through popular vote; 10 are appointed by the king) and 30-seat Senate (10 members are appointed by the House of Assembly, and 20 are appointed by the king). House of Assembly elections were last held October 2003. For local administration Swaziland is divided into four regions, each with an administrator appointed by the king. Parallel to the government structure is the traditional system consisting of the king and his advisers, traditional courts, 55 tinkhundla (subregional districts in which traditional chiefs are grouped), and 366 chiefdoms. Swaziland is a member of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), with which the U.S. began negotiating a free trade agreement in May 2003. The other members of SACU are Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, and South Africa. Principal Government Officials Head of State--King Mswati III Head of Government--Prime Minister A. T. Dlamini Deputy Prime Minister--Constance Simelane Ambassador to the United States--Ephraim Hlophe Permanent Representative to the UN--Phesheya Dlamini Central Bank Governor--Martin Dlamini Cabinet Ministers Agriculture and Cooperatives--Mtiti Fakudze Economic Planning and Development--Rev. Absalom Muntu Dlamini Education--Themba Msibi Enterprise and Employment--Senator Lutfo Dlamini Finance--Majozi Sithole Foreign Affairs and Trade--Senator Mathendele Dlamini Health and Social Welfare--Njabulo Mabuza Home Affairs--Prince Gabheni Housing and Urban Development--Mabili Dlamini Justice and Constitutional Affairs--Prince David Dlamini Public Service and Information--Sgayoyo Magongo Natural Resources and Energy--Dumsile Sukati Tourism, Environment, and Communication--Thandie Shongwe Public Works and Transport--Elijah Shongwe Regional Development and Youth Affairs--Chief Sipho Shongwe Swaziland maintains an embassy in the United States at 1712 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20009 (tel: 202-234-5002; fax: 202-234-8254). Swaziland's UN Mission is located at 408 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022 (tel: 212-371-8910; fax: 212-754-2755).