Chamber:
	House of Assembly
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	16 October 1998 24 October 1998
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all elective seats of the House of Assembly on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	On 12 August 1998, King Mswati III dissolved Parliament and polling was scheduled for October. Analysts interpreted this as a move aimed at countering a campaign by opposition political groups for a boycott of the non-party elections. Although parties had been banned since 1973, some unofficial ones operated openly and were joined in their protest by trade unions, especially the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions (SFTU). Altogether over 300 candidates contested the 55 elective seats of the House of Assembly, all of them running in an individual capacity. Those in the small but vocal opposition called for a more democratic political system and economic reforms, noting the King’s absolute power (appointment of some parliamentarians, the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, possibility to rule by decree) and the country’s high unemployment rate (20% +). The King was reportedly receptive to political reform but hemmed in by conservative members of his family. The first polling day (16 October) took place amid widespread voter apathy in light of the above-mentioned boycott call. Due to heavy rains, the authorities suspended the elections and rescheduled them for 24 October. This second day was similarly marked by high abstention. On 13 November, the King reappointed Mr. Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini as Prime Minister and, six days later, named the new Cabinet.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (16 October 1998): Elections results
Number of registered electors	200,000 (approx.)

Comments:
	Political parties are banned in Swaziland

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	63
Women:	2