KING MSWATI APPOINTS ROYAL FAMILY MEMBERS AND ALLIES TO PARLIAMENT
King Mswati III, Eswatini’s absolute monarch, has appointed his son, Prince Lindani, as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Assembly, alongside a group of royal family members and loyalists. The appointments were announced by Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo on Wednesday.
The King’s appointees include Prince Simelane, Princess Lindiwe, Princess Nkosungumenzi, and Deputy Army Commander Tsembeni Magongo. Other appointees are Thulisile Dladla, Mancoba Khumalo, Chief Ngalokhulu Mabuza, Chief Mvimbi Matse, and Prince Mshengu.
These appointments come amid widespread criticism of Eswatini’s governance system, where political power remains concentrated within the monarchy. The inclusion of multiple royal family members in Parliament underscores the King’s continued reliance on a close-knit circle of loyalists to maintain control over the country’s legislative processes.
Pro-democracy activists and critics argue that such appointments further entrench inequality and undermine efforts toward democratic reforms. The appointments are seen as reflective of the Tinkhundla system’s exclusion of broader public representation, with positions often allocated based on loyalty to the monarchy rather than merit or popular support.
While the King’s prerogative to appoint members to Parliament is enshrined in Eswatini’s constitution, these decisions have historically drawn ire from pro-democracy groups who view them as a means of consolidating royal influence over the nation’s political and economic affairs. The latest appointments are likely to fuel ongoing debates over the need for political reforms and greater inclusivity in Eswatini’s governance structures.
