Government and politics Last elections: 20 September 2013 Next elections: 2018 Head of state: King Mswati III Head of government: Prime Minister Dr Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini Women MPs: 6% Assembly and Senate elections for the pre-selected candidates were held in October 2003 and the turnout was low, especially in urban areas. A Commonwealth expert team was present. It said that, while there were shortcomings, ‘the elections were well conducted’ but also that ‘no elections can be credible when they are for a parliament which does not have power and when political parties are banned’. In November 2003 King Mswati III confirmed A. T. Dlamini as Prime Minister. A new constitution – drafted by the Constitutional Review Commission chaired by Prince David Dlamini – was approved by parliament and signed by the King in July 2005. It came into effect in February 2006. In the first elections under the new constitution, a new parliament was elected in September 2008. The election was observed by a Commonwealth expert team. The King appointed Dr Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini as Prime Minister; he had previously served in that position 1996–2003. In the parliamentary elections held on 20 September 2013, 55 members were elected, 12 of whom were returned, including only two of the six government ministers. The King reappointed Dr Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini as Prime Minister. Local government Ministry: Housing and Urban Development The Kingdom is divided into four regions: Hhohho (in the north), Manzini (west-central), Lubombo (east) and Shiselweni (south). Local government is provided for by the Urban Government Act 1969 and it is enshrined in Chapter VIII of the constitution. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is responsible for local government, which comprises 12 municipalities and 55 tinkhundla (rural councils). Local authority councillors are elected. The municipalities have revenue-raising powers as well as receiving regular and one-off transfers from national government. The local authorities are generally responsible for town planning, environmental protection, water supply and sanitation, waste management and leisure facilities. Swaziland Anti-Corruption Commission Adv. Thanda Mngwengwe, Commissioner Zero tolerance against all forms of corruption The Swaziland Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) was established by the Prevention of Corruption Act of 2006 as a government department under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs with a three-pronged legal mandate of Prevention, Investigations and Education. In 2013, His Majesty King Mswati III appointed Advocate Thanda Mngwengwe as part of the country’s commitment to deal decisively with corruption. Results are beginning to trickle in. ACC has achieved a 100 per cent conviction rate and the country has improved on the CPI international and continental rankings. Innovative ways of dealing with corruption have been introduced, inter alia the inter-agency approach, ACC rebranding and a four-year Strategic Plan aimed at re-engineering ACC operations. To date, a number of high profi le arrests have been made. At a preventative level, a national anti-corruption communications campaign will be launched from the offi ce of the Head of Government. A committee has recently been appointed by government to give support and improve anti-corruption initiatives through the entire judicial value chain from inception of new matters, skills required and resourcing needs, to the speedy fi nalisation of matters in court. Change is inevitable. Contact Anti-Corruption Commission Mbandzeni House Libandla Street P.O. Box 4842, Mbabane, Swaziland, H100 Tel: +268 2404 3179 Fax: +268 2404 0758 Toll free: 8003500 Email: anticorruption@realnet.co.sz www.acc.gov.sz
CEP template 2012
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