Editing Eswatini (section)

==Politics==
{{main|Government of Eswatini|Politics of Eswatini}}
[[File:Mswati III King of Eswatini.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Mswati III]] has been king of Eswatini since 1986.]]

===Monarchy===
Eswatini is an [[absolute monarchy]] with constitutional provision and Swazi law and customs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.sz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=170&Itemid=209 |title=Our governance |publisher=Gov.sz |access-date=16 August 2014}}</ref> The [[head of state]] is the king or ''[[ngwenyama]]'' (lit. ''lion''), currently King Mswati III, who ascended to the throne in 1986 after the death of his father King Sobhuza II in 1982 and a period of regency. According to the country's constitution, the [[ngwenyama]] is a symbol of unity and the eternity of the Swazi nation.<ref name=Const05>[http://www.gov.sz/images/stories/Constitution%20of%20%20SD-2005A001.pdf The Constitution of The Kingdom of Swaziland Act, 2005], Chapter 1, Section 4(2)</ref> By tradition, the king reigns along with his mother (or a ritual substitute), the ''[[ndlovukati]]'' (lit. ''she-''e''lephant''). The former was viewed as the administrative head of state and the latter as a spiritual and national head of state, with real power counterbalancing that of the king, but during the long reign of Sobhuza II, the role of the ''ndlovukati'' became more symbolic.<ref>{{cite web |date= 19 March 2022|title=Choosing a King |url=https://www.gov.sz/index.php/about-us-sp-15933109/who-we-are/chosing-a-king |access-date= 19 March 2022|website=The Government Of the Kingdom Of Eswatini}}</ref>

The king appoints the prime minister from the legislature and also appoints a majority of senators and a minority of legislators to the lower chamber of the [[Parliament of Eswatini|Libandla]] (parliament) with help from an advisory council. The king is allowed by the constitution to appoint some members to parliament to represent special interests. These special interests are citizens who might have been electoral candidates who were not elected, or might not have stood as candidates. This is done to balance views in parliament. Special interests could be people of a particular gender or race, people with disabilities, significant members of the business community, civic society, scholars, and chiefs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Constitution of the Kingdom of Eswatini 2005 |url=https://constitutions.unwomen.org/en/countries/africa/eswatini?provisioncategory=f62f03f36c6d49a49d805689c0f00a82 |access-date=2022-04-19 |website=constitutions.unwomen.org}}</ref>

===Parliament===
The Swazi [[Bicameralism|bicameral]] Parliament, or Libandla, consists of the [[Senate of Eswatini|Senate]] (30 seats; 10 members appointed by the House of Assembly and 20 appointed by the monarch; to serve five-year terms) and the [[House of Assembly of Eswatini|House of Assembly]] (65 seats; 10 members appointed by the monarch and 55 elected by [[Direct election|popular vote]]; to serve five-year terms). The elections are held every five years after dissolution of parliament by the king. The last elections were held on 29 September 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/eswatini-holds-parliamentary-elections-under-monarchs-control-2023-09-29/|title=Eswatini holds parliamentary elections under monarch's control|website=Reuters|date=29 September 2023 |language=en|access-date=5 Oct 2023}}</ref> The balloting is done in a [[Nonpartisanism|non-partisan]] manner. All election procedures are overseen by the Elections and Boundaries Commission.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eisa.org.za/WEP/swa3.htm |title=Swaziland: Elections and Boundaries Commission |publisher=EISA |date=8 March 2010 |access-date=16 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416082843/http://eisa.org.za/WEP/swa3.htm |archive-date=16 April 2015 }}</ref>

===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>

===Elections===
{{further|Elections in Eswatini}}
Nominations take place at the chiefdoms. On the day of nomination, the name of the nominee is raised by a show of hand, and the nominee either accepts or rejects the nomination. If accepted, the nominee must have the support of at least ten members of that chiefdom. The nominations are for the position of Member of Parliament, Constituency Headman (''Indvuna''), and the Constituency Executive Committee (''Bucopho''). The minimum number of nominees is four and the maximum is ten.<ref name="EISA">{{cite web |url=http://www.eisa.org.za/WEP/swatinkundla.htm |title=Swaziland: Tinkhundla electoral system |publisher=EISA |access-date=16 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416062059/http://eisa.org.za/WEP/swatinkundla.htm |archive-date=16 April 2015 }}</ref>

Primary elections also take place at the chiefdom level. It is by [[secret ballot]]. During the primary elections, the voters are given an opportunity to elect the member of the executive committee (bucopho) for that particular chiefdom. Aspiring members of parliament and the constituency headman are also elected from each chiefdom. The secondary and final elections takes place at the various constituencies called [[Inkhundla|tinkhundla]].<ref name="EISA"/> Candidates who win primary elections in the chiefdoms are considered nominees for the secondary elections at inkhundla or constituency level. The nominees with majority votes become the winners and they become members of parliament or constituency headman.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.sz/images/stories/justice/CONDUCT%20OF%20ELECTIONS%20IN%20SWAZILAND.pdf |title=Conduct of elections in Swaziland |access-date=16 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eisa.org.za/WEP/swa4.htm |title=Swaziland: Electoral system |publisher=EISA |access-date=16 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150416090129/http://eisa.org.za/WEP/swa4.htm |archive-date=16 April 2015 }}</ref> According to 2023 [[V-Dem Democracy indices]] Eswatini is 9th lowest ranked worldwide and 2nd lowest ranked [[democracy in Africa|electoral democracy in Africa]].<ref name="vdem_dataset">{{cite web |last=V-Dem Institute |date=2023 |title=The V-Dem Dataset |url=https://www.v-dem.net/data/the-v-dem-dataset/ |access-date=14 October 2023}}</ref>

===Foreign relations===
{{further|Foreign relations of Eswatini}}
Eswatini is a member of the [[United Nations]], the [[Commonwealth of Nations]], the [[African Union]], the [[Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa]], and the [[Southern African Development Community]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sz.one.un.org/|title=United Nations in Swaziland|website=sz.one.un.org|access-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814103559/http://sz.one.un.org/|archive-date=14 August 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thecommonwealth.org/our-member-countries/kingdom-eswatini|title=Kingdom of eSwatini {{!}} The Commonwealth|website=thecommonwealth.org|date=15 August 2013|access-date=14 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://au.int/en/countryprofiles/kingdom-swaziland|title=Kingdom of Swaziland {{!}} African Union|website=au.int|access-date=14 August 2018|archive-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814103916/https://au.int/en/countryprofiles/kingdom-swaziland|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.comesa.int/comesa-members-states/|title=COMESA Members States – Common Market for Eastern & Southern Africa|work=Common Market for Eastern & Southern Africa|access-date=14 August 2018|archive-date=14 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814165906/http://www.comesa.int/comesa-members-states/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sadc.int/member-states/swaziland/|title=Southern African Development Community :: Eswatini|website=sadc.int|access-date=14 August 2018}}</ref> As of 2024, it is the only country in Africa that has maintained ties with [[Taiwan]] and not the [[China|People's Republic of China]].<ref>{{cite web|title=eSwatini – Taiwan's last friend in Africa|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46831852|date=14 January 2019|last=Madowo|first=Larry|website=[[BBC]]|access-date=24 May 2021}}</ref>

===Judiciary===
The judicial system in Eswatini is a dual system. The 2005 constitution established a court system based on the [[Western world|Western]] model consisting of four regional Magistrates Courts, a High Court, and a Court of Appeal (the Supreme Court), which are independent of crown control. In addition, traditional courts (Swazi Courts or Customary Courts) deal with minor offenses and violations of traditional Swazi law and custom.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.sz/index.php/about-us-sp-15933109/governance/judiciary|title=Judiciary|website=The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160211091709/http://www.gov.sz/index.php/about-us-sp-15933109/governance/judiciary|archive-date=11 February 2016|access-date=26 September 2019}}</ref> Judges are appointed by the king and are usually expatriates from South Africa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Swaziland-JUDICIAL-SYSTEM.html|title=Swaziland – Judicial system |publisher=Nations Encyclopaedia|access-date= 21 February 2016}}</ref> The Supreme Court, which replaced the previous Court of Appeal, consists of the chief justice and at least four other Supreme Court judges. The High Court consists of the chief justice and at least four High Court judges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nyulawglobal.org/globalex/Swaziland.html|title=The Law and Legal Research in Swaziland|publisher=Hauser Global Law School Program|access-date= 21 February 2016}}</ref> The chief justices have been:

* 1967–1970: Sir Isadore Victor Elgan
* 1970–1972: Sir [[Philip Pike]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Who's who of Southern Africa |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GWZmAAAAMAAJ |publisher=Argus Printing & Publishing Company |language=en |date=1977}}</ref>
* 1972–1973–?: Roland Hill
* ?–1974–1983–?: Charles Nathan
* 1985–1991: Nicholas Robin Hannah<ref>{{cite web |title=High Court's longest-serving Judge retires from the bench |url=https://www.namibian.com.na/archive19982004/2005/december/national/05EFE732F7.html |website=www.namibian.com.na }}{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
* 1998–2002: Stanley Sapire
* 2002–2007: Jacobus Annandale (acting)
* 2007–2010: [[Richard Banda]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://african-parks.org/apffoundation/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=76|title=The African Parks Network: Board|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817025935/http://african-parks.org/apffoundation/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=76|archive-date=17 August 2011|access-date=18 January 2019}}</ref>
* 2010–2015: [[Michael Ramodibedi]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://thenewage.co.za/54489-1007-53-Swaziland_government_reappoints_controversial_chief_judge|title=Swaziland government re-appoints controversial chief judge|date=25 June 2012|work=The New Age Online|access-date=18 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215162228/http://thenewage.co.za/54489-1007-53-Swaziland_government_reappoints_controversial_chief_judge|archive-date=15 December 2013}}</ref>
* 2015–present: [[Bheki Maphalala]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.times.co.sz/news/105547-justice-maphalala-confirmed-as-cj.html|title=Justice Maphalala Confirmed as CJ|last=Ndzimandze|first=Mbongiseni|date=13 November 2015|work=Times of Swaziland|access-date=18 January 2019|archive-date=19 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121201/http://www.times.co.sz/news/105547-justice-maphalala-confirmed-as-cj.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Military===
[[File:Rangers in Action 22-African Land Forces Summit-US Army Africa-13 MAY 2010.jpg|thumb|Swazi army officers]]
The military of Eswatini ([[Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force]]) is used primarily during domestic protests, with some border and customs duties. The military has never been involved in a foreign conflict.<ref name="crash">{{cite news|url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=qw1101220382909B224|title=Crash diminishes Swaziland's air force|date=23 November 2004|publisher=[[Independent Online (South Africa)]]|access-date=19 October 2009}}</ref> The king is the [[commander-in-chief]] of the defence force and the substantive Minister of the Ministry of Defence.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.africafocus.org/docs11/swaz1104.php |title=Swaziland: Time for Democracy? |publisher=Africafocus.org |access-date=6 July 2012}}</ref> There are approximately 3,000 personnel in the defence force, with the army being the largest component.<ref name="sipri1">{{cite web |url=http://milexdata.sipri.org/ |title=SIPRI military expenditure database |publisher=Milexdata.sipri.org |access-date=6 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328072123/http://milexdata.sipri.org/ |archive-date=28 March 2010 }}</ref> There is a small air force, which is mainly used for transporting the king as well as cargo and personnel, surveying land with search and rescue functions, and mobilising in case of a national emergency.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Sentinel-Security-Assessment-Southern-Africa/Air-force-Swaziland.html |title=Air force (Swaziland) – Sentinel Security Assessment – Southern Africa |publisher=Janes.com |date=12 April 2011 |access-date=6 July 2012}}</ref>