Eswatini

House of Assembly Senate

House of Assembly

Political system: Monarchy
Structure of parliament: Bicameral
IPU membership: Yes

About parliament

Basic information such as the official name of parliament and details of its structure and leadership. Also includes the current breakdown of MPs by sex and age, and provisions for quotas and reserved seats.

Parliament name: Libandla (Parliament)
Chamber name: House of Assembly
Structure & status of parliament: Lower chamber
Parliamentary term (years): 5

IPU membership

Affiliation periods: from 2016
IPU Geopolitical Group/s: African Group

Speaker

Official title: Speaker of the House of Assembly
Speaker: Jabulani Clement Mabuza (Male)
Date of birth: 22 Jul 1972
Term: 06 Oct 2023
Additional information: Elected on 6 Oct. 2023.

Speaker terms

Click for historical data

Secretary general

Official title: Clerk to Parliament
Secretary General: Benedict Xaba (Male)
Term: No information available

Official title: Clerk at Table of the House of Assembly
Secretary General: Raymond Mkhonta (Male)
Term: No information available

Members

Statutory number of members: 74

Notes:
The House of Assembly may comprise up to 76 members as follows:

- No more than 60 members elected from constituencies;*

- No more than 10 members nominated by the King;

- Four female members, specially elected from the four regions;**

- The Attorney General, who is an ex officio member;

- The Speaker, who may be designated from outside Parliament and thereby becomes an ex officio Member of Parliament.

* The House of Assembly elected in 2023 comprises 59 directly elected members, including the Speaker.

** The 2005 Constitution stipulates that the House of Assembly will elect one woman from each of the four regions of the country in cases where the proportion of women is less than 30% of the total membership of Parliament (the House of Assembly and the Senate). In accordance with the Election of Women Members to the House of Assembly Act (Act No. 09 of 2018), four additional women were elected in December 2023. The House of Assembly thus comprises 16 women out of 74 members.
Principal mode of designation of members: Directly elected
Directly elected members: 59
Indirectly elected members: 4
Appointed members: 10
Other members: 1
Current number of members: 74
Men: 58
Women: 16
Percentage of women: 21.6%
Statutory number of members per country: 104
Population (in thousands): 1,231
Inhabitants per parliamentarian: 12,310

Age

Data on the age of parliamentarians is collected at the start of the legislature, following the most recent elections. This data is not updated during the legislature, except when parliament notifies the IPU of a change in the youngest or oldest member.

Average age of all members: No information available

Youngest member: Ntando Velaphi Mkhonta (Male)
Youngest member (years): 28

Oldest member: Eliezer Thambo Gina (Male)
Oldest member (years): 83

Number of members, by age (2023-10)

Breakdown of members by age and gender
	18 - 20	21 - 30	31 - 40	41 - 45	46 - 50	51 - 60	61 - 70	71 - 80	81 - 90	91 and over	Totals per gender
Male	0	2	10	10	15	15	4	1	0	0	57
Female	0	0	2	3	1	5	5	0	0	0	16
Totals per age interval	0	2	12	13	16	20	9	1	0	0	73
	Total <= 45: 27				Total >= 46: 46

Percentage of members, by age
Age at the last election or renewal	Overall	Male	Female
Percentage of MPs 30 years of age or younger	2.7%	2.7%	0.0%
Percentage of MPs 40 years of age or younger	19.2%	16%	2.7%
Percentage of MPs 45 years of age or younger	37.0%	30%	6.8%

Reserved seats and quotas

There are reserved seats in parliament for certain groups: Yes
Women: 4
Electoral quota for women: Yes

Notes: At least 5 of the 10 members appointed by the King to the House of Assembly must be women. When women do not constitute at least 30% of the total number of Members of Parliament (House of Assembly and Senate) after any general election, the House of Assembly shall elect no more than four women as its members on a regional basis.

Sources:
https://www.idea.int/data-tools/data/gender-quotas-database/country?country=215

Article 86 clauses (1) and (2), and article 95 clauses (1)(b), (1)(c), (2) and (3) of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Swaziland* Act 2005.

*The country name was modified from Swaziland to Eswatini, effective May 2018.
Youth quota: No information available

Links to additional information

Parliamentary website: https://www.parliament.gov.sz/

https://www.gov.sz/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=407&Itemid=213
List of members: https://www.parliament.gov.sz/houseofassembly/list/
Rules of procedure/Standing Orders: No information available
Constitution: https://www.gov.sz/images/stories/Constitution of SD-2005A001.pdf

Historical data for Name
Updated at	Name
2018-05	Eswatini
-	Swaziland

Historical data for Name

Updated at

Name

2018-05

Eswatini

Swaziland

Historical data for Parliamentary term (years)
Updated at	Parliamentary term (years)	Notes
2024-08	5
2013-09	5	Following the proclamation by the King on the occasion of the country’s 50th anniversary in April 2018, the country name has been modified from Swaziland to Eswatini with effective of 30 May 2018. Suite à la proclamation du Roi à l'occasion du 50ème anniversaire du pays en avril 2018, le nom du pays a été modifié de Swaziland à Eswatini avec effet au 30 mai 2018.

Historical data for Parliamentary term (years)

Updated at

Parliamentary term (years)

Notes

2024-08

2013-09

Following the proclamation by the King on the occasion of the country’s 50th anniversary in April 2018, the country name has been modified from Swaziland to Eswatini with effective of 30 May 2018.

Suite à la proclamation du Roi à l'occasion du 50ème anniversaire du pays en avril 2018, le nom du pays a été modifié de Swaziland à Eswatini avec effet au 30 mai 2018.

Historical data for Statutory number of members
Updated at	Statutory number of members
2023-12	74
2023-09	70
2022-12	70
2021-12	70
2019-12	70
2018-10	70
2018-09	70
2016-01	65
2015-01	65
2009-01	65
2008-10	65
2008-09	65
2007-10	65
2005-01	65

Historical data for Statutory number of members

Updated at

Statutory number of members

2023-12

2023-09

2022-12

2021-12

2019-12

2018-10

2018-09

2016-01

2015-01

2009-01

2008-10

2008-09

2007-10

2005-01

Historical data for Current number of members
Updated at	Current number of members
2023-12	74
2023-09	70
2021-12	74
2019-12	73
2018-09	69
2011-01	65
2010-01	66
1993-01	65
1972-01	55

Historical data for Current number of members

Updated at

Current number of members

2023-12

2023-09

2021-12

2019-12

2018-09

2011-01

2010-01

1993-01

1972-01

Historical data for Men
Updated at	Men
2023-09	58
2022-12	63
2022-08	64
2021-12	65
2019-12	66
2018-10	64
2018-09	57

Historical data for Men

Updated at

Men

2023-09

2022-12

2022-08

2021-12

2019-12

2018-10

2018-09

Historical data for Women
Updated at	Women
2023-12	16
2023-09	12
2022-12	11
2022-08	10
2021-12	9
2019-12	7
2018-10	5
2018-09	2
2013-09	4
2008-11	9
2008-10	8
2007-11	9
2007-10	8
2003-10	7
1987-01	2
1983-01	1
1978-01	3
1972-01	1

Historical data for Women

Updated at

Women

2023-12

2023-09

2022-12

2022-08

2021-12

2019-12

2018-10

2018-09

2013-09

2008-11

2008-10

2007-11

2007-10

2003-10

1987-01

1983-01

1978-01

1972-01

Historical data for Percentage of women
Updated at	Percentage of women
2023-12	21.6%
2023-09	17.1%
2022-12	14.9%
2022-08	13.5%
2021-12	12.2%
2019-12	9.6%
2018-10	7.2%
2018-09	2.9%
2013-09	6.2%
2011-01	13.8%
2010-01	13.6%
2008-11	13.8%
2008-10	12.3%
2007-11	13.8%
2007-10	12.3%
2003-10	10.8%
1993-01	3.1%
1987-01	3.6%
1983-01	1.8%
1978-01	5.5%
1972-01	1.8%

Historical data for Percentage of women

Updated at

Percentage of women

2023-12

21.6%

2023-09

17.1%

2022-12

14.9%

2022-08

13.5%

2021-12

12.2%

2019-12

9.6%

2018-10

7.2%

2018-09

2.9%

2013-09

6.2%

2011-01

13.8%

2010-01

13.6%

2008-11

13.8%

2008-10

12.3%

2007-11

13.8%

2007-10

12.3%

2003-10

10.8%

1993-01

3.1%

1987-01

3.6%

1983-01

1.8%

1978-01

5.5%

1972-01

1.8%

Historical data for Statutory number of members per country
Updated at	Statutory number of members per country
2023-12	104
2023-09	100
2022-12	100
2021-12	100
2019-12	100
2018-10	100
2018-09	100
2016-01	95
2015-01	95
2009-01	95
2008-10	95
2008-09	95
2007-10	95
2005-01	95

Historical data for Statutory number of members per country

Updated at

Statutory number of members per country

2023-12

104

2023-09

100

2022-12

100

2021-12

100

2019-12

100

2018-10

100

2018-09

100

2016-01

2015-01

2009-01

2008-10

2008-09

2007-10

2005-01

Historical data for Population (in thousands)
Updated at	Population (in thousands)
2023-01	1,231
2022-01	1,219
2021-01	1,207
2015-01	1,319
2014-01	1,295
2013-01	1,271
2012-01	1,248
2011-01	1,225
2010-01	1,203
2009-01	1,181
2008-01	1,159
2007-01	1,138
2006-01	1,121
2005-01	1,106
2004-01	1,095
2003-01	1,087
2002-01	1,081
2001-01	1,073
2000-01	1,061
1999-01	1,046
1998-01	1,026
1997-01	1,004
1996-01	982
1995-01	961
1994-01	942
1993-01	924
1992-01	906
1991-01	886
1990-01	861
1989-01	833
1988-01	800
1987-01	767
1986-01	734
1985-01	705
1984-01	680
1983-01	658
1982-01	639
1981-01	621
1980-01	603
1979-01	585
1978-01	568
1977-01	550
1976-01	533
1975-01	517
1974-01	502
1973-01	487
1972-01	472
1971-01	459
1970-01	446
1969-01	434
1968-01	422
1967-01	411
1966-01	401
1965-01	392
1964-01	382
1963-01	374
1962-01	366
1961-01	357
1960-01	349
1959-01	341
1958-01	332
1957-01	324
1956-01	315
1955-01	307
1954-01	299
1953-01	292
1952-01	285
1951-01	279
1945-01	273

Historical data for Population (in thousands)

Updated at

Population (in thousands)

2023-01

1,231

2022-01

1,219

2021-01

1,207

2015-01

1,319

2014-01

1,295

2013-01

1,271

2012-01

1,248

2011-01

1,225

2010-01

1,203

2009-01

1,181

2008-01

1,159

2007-01

1,138

2006-01

1,121

2005-01

1,106

2004-01

1,095

2003-01

1,087

2002-01

1,081

2001-01

1,073

2000-01

1,061

1999-01

1,046

1998-01

1,026

1997-01

1,004

1996-01

982

1995-01

961

1994-01

942

1993-01

924

1992-01

906

1991-01

886

1990-01

861

1989-01

833

1988-01

800

1987-01

767

1986-01

734

1985-01

705

1984-01

680

1983-01

658

1982-01

639

1981-01

621

1980-01

603

1979-01

585

1978-01

568

1977-01

550

1976-01

533

1975-01

517

1974-01

502

1973-01

487

1972-01

472

1971-01

459

1970-01

446

1969-01

434

1968-01

422

1967-01

411

1966-01

401

1965-01

392

1964-01

382

1963-01

374

1962-01

366

1961-01

357

1960-01

349

1959-01

341

1958-01

332

1957-01

324

1956-01

315

1955-01

307

1954-01

299

1953-01

292

1952-01

285

1951-01

279

1945-01

273

Historical data for Inhabitants per parliamentarian
Updated at	Inhabitants per parliamentarian
2023-12	12,310
2022-12	No information available
2022-01	12,190
2021-12	12,070
2019-12	No information available
2018-10	13,884
2015-01	No information available
2014-01	13,632
2013-01	13,379
2012-01	13,137
2011-01	12,895
2010-01	12,663
2009-01	12,432
2008-01	12,200
2007-01	11,979
2006-01	11,800
2005-01	11,642

Historical data for Inhabitants per parliamentarian

Updated at

Inhabitants per parliamentarian

2023-12

12,310

2022-12

No information available

2022-01

12,190

2021-12

12,070

2019-12

No information available

2018-10

13,884

2015-01

No information available

2014-01

13,632

2013-01

13,379

2012-01

13,137

2011-01

12,895

2010-01

12,663

2009-01

12,432

2008-01

12,200

2007-01

11,979

2006-01

11,800

2005-01

11,642

Eswatini

House of Assembly

About parliament

IPU membership

Speaker

Speaker terms

Secretary general

Members

Age

Number of members, by age (2023-10)

Reserved seats and quotas

Links to additional information

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for Name

Historical data for Parliamentary term (years)

Historical data for Speaker

Historical data for Speaker terms

Historical data for Statutory number of members

Historical data for Current number of members

Historical data for Men

Historical data for Women

Historical data for Percentage of women

Historical data for Statutory number of members per country

Historical data for Population (in thousands)

Historical data for Inhabitants per parliamentarian

Eswatini

House of Assembly

About parliament

IPU membership

Speaker See historical data for this field

Speaker terms See historical data for this field

Secretary general

Members

Age

Number of members, by age (2023-10)

Reserved seats and quotas

Links to additional information

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for Name

Historical data for Parliamentary term (years)

Historical data for Speaker

Historical data for Speaker terms

Historical data for Statutory number of members

Historical data for Current number of members

Historical data for Men

Historical data for Women

Historical data for Percentage of women

Historical data for Statutory number of members per country

Historical data for Population (in thousands)

Historical data for Inhabitants per parliamentarian

Speaker

Speaker terms