HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY OF ESWATINI

This article discusses the house of Assembly of Eswatini, from the history to the composition and speakers of the house of Assembly.

The House of Assembly of Eswatini is the lower chamber of the country’s bicameral Parliament. The Assembly may debate and pass bills.

History

The House of Assembly was established in 1967 when the Legislative Council was disbanded and bicameral legislature was established in the new constitution.

Constitution

A maximum of 76 members are permitted by section 95 (1) of the Constitution. There are currently 66. Fifty-five members are elected from single-member constituencies corresponding to the tinkhundlas (tribal communities). Fourteen tinkhundlas are in Hhohho District, 11 in Lubombo District, 16 in Manzini District, and 14 in Shiselweni District. The King appoints the other ten members, at least half of whom must be women. The 66th member is the Speaker of the House, who is elected from outside the House. If the percentage of women members falls below 30%, a maximum of four women may be elected from the administrative regions.

Read: POLITICAL HISTORY OF ESWATINI

Each member must be a citizen of Eswatini, at least 18 years old, a registered voter, and have “paid all taxes or made arrangements satisfactory to the Commissioner of Taxes”.

The House selects ten of the 30 members of the upper chamber, the Senate of Eswatini, the King appointing the rest.

speakers of the House of Assembly

The Speaker is elected by the House, either among its own members (other than ministers) or from among persons who are not members. This is an incomplete list of speakers of the House of Assembly of Eswatini before and after Swaziland was renamed to Eswatini.

list of speakers of the House of Assembly of Eswatini: