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Parliament name (generic / translated) Libandla / Parliament More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Assembly Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate Affiliation to the IPU Yes Affiliation date(s) 2016 - LEADERSHIP President Themba Msibi (M)  Notes Elected on 21 Oct. 2013. Secretary General Ndvuna S. Dlamini (Parliament) (M)  Raymond Mkhonta (House) (M)  COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 65 / 65 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 4 (6.15%) Mode of designation directly elected 55 appointed 10 Notes Appointed members: appointed by the Head of State. The Speaker may be designated from outside parliament and thereby becomes an ex officio member of parliament. Term 5 years Notes Following the proclamation by the King on the occasion of the country's 50th anniversary in April 2018, the country name has been modified from Swaziland to Eswatini with effective of 30 May 2018. Last renewal dates 20 September 2013 (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address House of Assembly Houses of Parliament P.O. Box 37 - LOBAMBA (Export mailing lists) Phone (268) 2 416 2407-11 2 416 1287-11 Fax (268) 2 416 1603 E-mail adminparl@swazi.net Website http://www.gov.sz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=407&Itemid=213

Parliament name (generic / translated) Libandla / Parliament Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Assembly Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 13 May 1971 Mode of designation directly elected 55 appointed 10 Constituencies 55 single-member constituencies corresponding to the tinkhundlas (tribal communities). Voting system Majority: Majority vote in two rounds. The primary election is held at local councils (Chiefdoms).The first three successful candidates in each Chiefdom then proceed to the secondary election. The candidate who wins the highest number of votes is declared elected at the second round. Vacancies for elective seats which arise between general elections are filled through by-elections. Vacancies for appointed members are filled through re-appointment by the Head of State. Voting is not compulsory. Voter requirements - age: 18 years and above - Swazi citizenship - ordinary residence or work in the Constituency - ineligibility: insanity, allegiance to a foreign State, sentence of death or imprisonment exceeding six months, conviction on election offences. CANDIDATES Eligibility - qualified electors - age: 18 years - Swazi citizenship - ordinary residence in the country - ineligibility: undischarged bankruptcy Incompatibilities - public or election-connected office - government contractors - members of the armed forces Candidacy requirements - Nomination by Chiefdoms - Each Chiefdom nominates not less than four and not more than 10 candidates.

Parliament name (generic / translated) Libandla / Parliament Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Assembly Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) 20 September 2013 Timing and scope of renewal At stake in the 2013 elections were 55 of the 65 members in the House of Assembly, the other 10 seats being appointed by the King. Political parties are banned from taking part in elections. All candidates thus stood as independents. The People's United Democratic Movement of Swaziland (PUDEMO, a banned political party which operates from South Africa), called on citizens to boycott the 2013 elections. PUDEMO leader Mario Masuku argued no election can be free in the absence of political parties. Mr. Jan Sithole - a pro-democracy activist and leader of the Swaziland Democratic Party (Swadepa) – was elected to the House, pledging to change the government from the inside. The outgoing Deputy Speaker, Ms. Esther Dlamini, became the sole woman to be elected to the House of Assembly in 2013. Following the elections, King Mswati III appointed two princes, a princess and three members of his Dlamini clan to the House of Assembly. On 28 October, the King re-appointed his half-brother, Mr. Barnabas Dlamini, as Prime Minister. The latter - who pledged to tackle corruption and work for the King's vision to bring the kingdom to First World status by 2022 - will serve an unprecedented fourth term. Date of previous elections: 19 September 2008 Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: N/A Timing of election: Upon normal expiry Expected date of next elections: September 2018 Number of seats at stake: 55 (full renewal) Number of candidates: 309 (254 men, 55 women) Percentage of women candidates: 17.8% Number of parties contesting the election: N/A* *Political parties are banned from taking part in elections. Number of parties winning seats: N/A Alternation of power: No (Monarchy) Number of parties in government: N/A Names of parties in government: N/A Date of the first session of the new parliament: 17 October 2013 Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Themba Msibi STATISTICS Voter turnout Round no 1 20 September 2013 Number of registered electors Voters Blank or invalid ballot papers Valid votes 415'012 Notes Distribution of votes Round no 1 Political group Candidates Votes % of votes Distribution of seats Round no 1 Political Group Total of seats Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 61 4 6.15% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Note: Following the proclamation by the King on the occasion of the country's 50th anniversary in April 2018, the country name has been modified from Swaziland to Eswatini with effective of 30 May 2018. Note on the number of women: One woman was elected, while three others were appointed by the King. Sources: Parliament (07.11.2013) http://www.elections.org.sz/ http://www.eods.eu/library/FR%20SWAZILAND%202013_en.pdf

Parliament name (generic / translated) Libandla / Parliament Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name House of Assembly Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Senate APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title Speaker of the House of Assembly Term - duration: 5 years (term of House) - reasons for interruption of the term: resignation, death, dissolution Appointment - elected by all the Members of the Assembly - the election is held at the first sitting of the newly elected Assembly or when a vacancy occurs - after validation of mandates Eligibility - any Member of the Assembly or any qualified person can be a candidate - candidatures must be submitted by a third party who is himself a Member of the Assembly - candidatures must be seconded by another Member of the Assembly Voting system - if only one candidature is submitted : the candidate is elected without a vote or debate - if several candidatures are submitted : a secret ballot is taken for each candidates in the order of their registration until one of them is elected. Procedures / results - the Clerk presides over the Assembly during the voting - the Clerk announces the results without any delay STATUS Status - in the absence of the Speaker, the Deputy Speaker or any other Member elected by the Assembly can assume his/her role and functions Board Material facilities NA (no information received) FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions, in exceptional case only - organises the debates and sets speaking time - examines the admissibility of questions, petitions, bills and amendments Chairing of public sittings - can open and close sittings, within the framework of the Standing Orders - can suspend sittings for short periods - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the Assembly - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures - establishes the list of speakers, gives (the Member who catches the Speaker's eye would have the floor) and withdraws permission to speak - calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities - checks the quorum - authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates - interprets the rules of other regulations governing the life of the Assembly Special powers - is responsible for safety, and in this capacity, can call the police in the event of disturbance in the Assembly Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes part in voting, only if he/she has been elected at the Assembly and only in the case of a tied vote

This page was last updated on 12 June 2018
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