King Mswati III of Swaziland has appointed six members of his family to the kingdom’s senate.
This is in
addition to the two princes, a princess and three members of his own
Dlamini clan he appointed to the House
of Assembly earlier this month (October 2013).
King Mswati, who
rules Swaziland as sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, chooses 20 of
the 30 members of the Swazi Senate. The other 10 are elected by members of the House
of Assembly. None are elected by the people.
The king also
appoints 10 members of the 65-strong House of Assembly. The others are selected
by the people. Political parties are banned from taking part in the election.
The appointment of
his family to the Senate and the House strengthen the king’s control over what
happens in the Swaziland Parliament. It is widely acknowledged outside of
Swaziland that the parliament has no real powers and will not do anything that
displeases the king.
In addition to
appointing six of his own family to the Senate, King Mswati also appointed four
chiefs and one acting chief. In Swaziland chiefs are the personal representatives
of the king in their local areas. They are seen as the eyes and ears of the king
and often delegate his powers to themselves.
King Mswati also
reappointed his staunch
supporter Barnabas Dlamini to a third term in office as prime minister.
Dlamini, a member of the king’s clan, was not elected to parliament.
See also
KING APPOINTS HIS FAMILY TO PARLIAMENT
‘PM IS
INCOMPETENT, UNTRUSTWORTHY, VAIN’
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