Editing Eswatini (section)

===Political culture===
At Swaziland's independence on 6 September 1968, Swaziland adopted a [[Westminster system|Westminster-style]] constitution. On 12 April 1973, King Sobhuza II annulled it by decree, assuming supreme powers in all executive, judicial, and legislative matters.<ref name=Eisa08>{{cite web|title=Swaziland: Tinkhundla electoral system|url=http://www.content.eisa.org.za/old-page/swaziland-tinkhundla-electoral-system|publisher=Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa|access-date=20 July 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227055747/http://www.content.eisa.org.za/old-page/swaziland-tinkhundla-electoral-system|archive-date=27 December 2014}}</ref> The first non-party elections for the House of Assembly were held in 1978, and they were conducted under the [[inkhundla|tinkhundla]] as electoral constituencies determined by the King, and established an Electoral Committee appointed by the King to supervise elections.<ref name=Eisa08 />

Until the 1993 election, the ballot was not secret, voters were not registered, and they did not elect representatives directly. Instead, voters elected an [[electoral college]] by passing through a gate designated for the candidate of choice while officials counted them.<ref name="Eisa08" /> Later on, a constitutional review commission was appointed by King Mswati III in July 1996, comprising chiefs, political activists, and unionists to consider public submissions and draft proposals for a new constitution.<ref>''Africa South of the Sahara 2004''. Psychology Press. 2003. pg. 1096; {{ISBN|9781857431834}}</ref>

Drafts were released for comment in May 1999 and November 2000. These were strongly criticised by civil society organisations in Swaziland and human rights organisations elsewhere. A 15-member team was announced in December 2001 to draft a new constitution; several members of this team were reported to be close to the royal family.<ref>''Africa South of the Sahara 2004''. Psychology Press. 2003. pg. 1097; {{ISBN|9781857431834}}</ref>