State in Eswatini

The Constitution is the supreme law of Eswatini. It establishes a dual public order in which modern state bodies operate alongside traditional institutions and Swazi law and custom. Swazi law and custom refers to recognised customary rules, practices and authorities, especially in traditional communities; Roman-Dutch common law also forms part of the legal framework. The official Constitution PDF may still carry the former title Swaziland, although the constitutional state is the Kingdom of Eswatini. The Constitution protects rights including life, personal freedom, protection from torture, equality, a fair hearing, property, religion, expression, assembly, association, movement and administrative justice. Any suspension or limitation of rights during an emergency must follow the constitutional rules. Citizens are expected to respect the Constitution and law, protect the national interest and the rights of others, support democracy and the rule of law, protect public property, cooperate with lawful public-safety measures and protect the environment. King Mswati III is the hereditary head of state and is also called iNgwenyama. Executive authority rests with the King and is exercised directly or through the Cabinet and ministers. The King appoints the Prime Minister from the House of Assembly, gives assent to legislation, summons and dissolves Parliament, conducts constitutional diplomatic functions, grants pardons or reprieves, and may exercise constitutional powers concerning emergencies, commissions, vusela and referendums. He is Commander-in-Chief of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force and Commissioner-in-Chief of the police and correctional services. Russell Mmiso Dlamini has been Prime Minister since his appointment on 3 November 2023. The Cabinet consists of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and ministers, while Principal Secretaries manage the administration of ministries and the Attorney-General provides the government’s principal legal advice. Parliament consists of the Senate and the House of Assembly. The King-in-Parliament is the supreme legislative authority. The Senate may have up to 31 members, with two-thirds appointed by the King. The House of Assembly may have up to 76 members, with up to 60 chosen through Tinkhundla constituencies and the remaining members nominated by the King. The King’s assent is required for legislation. Money and appropriation Bills are dealt with primarily by the House of Assembly. Parliament makes laws, represents communities and oversees executive activity. It normally meets at least once each year; the 12th Parliament was in its third session in 2026. Order Papers, Hansard, committee reports and Votes and Proceedings provide public records of parliamentary work. The judiciary is constitutionally independent. The Supreme Court is the final court of appeal and handles constitutional interpretation and supervisory jurisdiction. The High Court hears original and appellate matters, while Magistrates’ Courts generally provide first-instance proceedings. Specialist institutions include the Industrial Court, Industrial Court of Appeal, Commercial Court and Small Claims Court. Swazi National Courts and other customary courts deal with matters governed by Swazi law and custom. The King appoints superior judges on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission, and the Commission appoints magistrates. The Director of Public Prosecutions conducts criminal prosecutions independently, with consultation with the Attorney-General on national-security matters. Court access is handled through registries, and legal aid and interpretation may be available; specialist courts apply their own fees and procedures. Eswatini has four administrative regions: Hhohho with 15 Tinkhundla, Manzini with 18, Shiselweni with 15 and Lubombo with 11, making 59 Tinkhundla in total. There is no federal state level. Each region has a Regional Council and a Regional Administrator appointed by the King on ministerial advice. The Regional Secretary is a senior civil servant who plans, budgets and coordinates ministry work in the region. An Inkhundla is a local authority that supports decentralised service delivery, bottom-up planning and community projects. Its Bucopho executive committee is chaired by the Indvuna YeNkhundla. Chiefdoms and Imiphakatsi operate below the Inkhundla, and chiefs exercise traditional authority. Urban local government has a more fragmented structure. Municipal councils, town councils and town boards operate under the Urban Government Act 1969 and receive administrative oversight from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. Rural access commonly involves Tinkhundla structures and traditional leadership, while urban services are handled through the relevant municipal, town or government body. Local-government reform and decentralisation proposals have been reported, but they do not yet constitute a completely new system. The Civil Service Commission handles appointment, promotion, transfer, termination, dismissal and discipline of public officers. Principal Secretaries lead departmental administration. People may need to approach a national ministry, regional administration, Inkhundla, urban authority or traditional authority depending on the service. Government portals, ministries, departments, the Gazette and electronic services provide public information and applications. Regional Administration offers services such as civil marriage, affidavits and Commissioner of Oaths functions. Fees and processing times depend on the service; no single nationwide fee or timing table applies to every public procedure. Public money is managed through the Consolidated Fund. Withdrawals generally require a statutory charge, an Appropriation Act or a supplementary estimate. The financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March, and annual estimates are presented before the financial year or within 60 days after it begins. For 2026/27, budget documents reported revenue excluding grants of E31.42 billion, grants of E0.474 billion and appropriated revenue and grants of E31.90 billion. Recurrent expenditure was E29.14 billion, capital expenditure E7.78 billion and total expenditure E36.92 billion, excluding debt redemption of E5.33 billion. The reported fiscal deficit was E5.02 billion, equal to 4.9% of GDP, while the wage bill was E12.44 billion and utilised SACU revenue was E11.4 billion. Dependence on SACU revenue, public debt, service delivery and decentralisation shape the practical significance of public finance. Public procurement is governed by the Public Procurement Act 2011 and the Public Procurement Regulations 2020, which entered into force on 24 May 2021. The Eswatini Public Procurement Regulatory Agency, commonly known as ESPPRA, regulates the system. Government tenders are published through the relevant finance or tender portal. Each tender sets its own documents, fees and deadlines, so no general tender deadline applies to all purchases. The Auditor-General audits public accounts across government offices, courts and public authorities. Audit reports are submitted through the Minister for Finance to both Houses of Parliament, and unlawful expenditure may be disallowed or charged to responsible officials. The Office of the Auditor-General has published an Auditor-General’s Report for 2023 and forensic and compliance reports in 2024. The Anti-Corruption Commission operates under the Prevention of Corruption Act 2006, receives complaints, investigates suspected corruption and refers cases to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The Commission on Human Rights and Public Administration, known as CHRAPA, accepts written complaints about rights violations, maladministration, abuse of power and corruption. It can issue subpoenas and make findings and recommendations, but may refuse a matter lodged more than 12 months after the relevant event. The Integrity Commission applies leadership-code duties, including asset and liability declarations before or within six months of taking office, every two years and at the end of office for covered officials such as ministers, members of Parliament, judges and senior public officers. Freedom of expression, assembly and association are constitutionally protected. Parliament publishes legislative and oversight documents, while the Gazette provides mandatory publication for laws and certain official notices. The Government Press Office and government social-media channels communicate public information. The Eswatini Communications Commission, or ESCCOM, regulates electronic communications, data protection, cybersecurity, broadcasting, postal and courier services and e-commerce under the ESCCOM Act 2013. Public networks, broadcasting and radio spectrum require licensing. ESCCOM may impose administrative fines or suspend or withdraw a licence. A radio licence normally lasts 12 months and should be renewed at least 30 days before expiry. Public information is practically available through government websites, Parliament, the Gazette and e-services, although no standalone general freedom-of-information equivalent was identified in the reviewed official sources. The Royal Eswatini Police Service maintains public order, prevents and detects crime, apprehends suspects and protects public security. The Commissioner of Police directs its administration, command and discipline. The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force is a permanent, disciplined and non-partisan force accountable to civilian authority and responsible for defending sovereignty and territorial integrity. His Majesty’s Correctional Services provide secure custody, order, rehabilitation and reintegration. Disaster management operates under the Disaster Management Act 2006 through the National Disaster Management Agency, National Emergency Operations Centre, National Disaster Management Council, Regional Disaster Management Committees and Emergency Task Forces. National, regional and community plans, early-warning systems and a disaster fund support preparedness and response. The National Cybersecurity Agency works with the police and defence force on cyber risks. Citizenship registration is handled by the Citizenship Board, which may grant or cancel registration. The process includes a hearing and legal representation, and citizenship matters are expected to be concluded within a maximum period of six months under the reviewed framework. Public services, complaints and security assistance therefore depend on the responsible institution and the level at which the matter arises: national ministry, court, region, Inkhundla, urban authority, traditional authority or specialised oversight body.