Eswatini’s King Mswati III announced the dissolution of parliament on Tuesday during a speech to thousands of his subjects at his Ludzidzini Royal Residence. The move is seen as a preparatory step towards the country’s national elections scheduled for September.
Addressing the nation, he stated: “It is time to dissolve parliament to allow the nation to elect new MPs who prioritise the country’s development. The nation must elect people who will not elevate their selfish needs over national interests.”
However, the King’s message drew criticism from opposition figures. Sibongile Mazibuko, president of the Ngwane National Liberatory Congress, accused King Mswati of deceit in the wake of the civil unrest that rocked the nation in June 2021.
Mazibuko argued, “The King was not truthful in his speech. He promised SADC (Southern African Development Community) dialogue, but he never instituted any. Even he is misleading the nation to believe that new graduates will be employed, but where will the budget come from? The health sector has collapsed and the economy is not performing well.”
Pro-democracy protests broke out in June 2021, sparked by the death of a 25-year-old law student, allegedly at the hands of the police. The ensuing dissent led to the arrest of over 1,000 people and the deployment of security forces to suppress the unrest.
Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is a landlocked country situated in southern Africa. The monarchy in Eswatini holds both executive and judicial powers, and the King is responsible for appointing the Prime Minister.
Eswatini’s parliament operates under a bicameral system, comprising the House of Assembly and the House of Senate. From their respective chiefdoms, citizens elect 59 Members of Parliament (MPs), with an additional 10 MPs appointed directly by the King.
Following the election, the King appoints 20 members to the House of Senate, while the House of Assembly elects the remaining 10 members. As the nation readies for the forthcoming elections, it remains to be seen whether the newly formed parliament will usher in a new era of national development and stability.
Image Credit: REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz/File Photo
