List of political parties in Eswatini

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This article lists political parties in Eswatini. The status of political parties in Eswatini is not clearly defined.

Contents

Current parties

Source: [1]

Historical parties

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eswatini</span> Country in Southern Africa

Eswatini, formally the Kingdom of Eswatini and also known by its former official name Swaziland and formerly the Kingdom of Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its north, west, south, and southeast. At no more than 200 km (120 mi) north to south and 130 km (81 mi) east to west, Eswatini is one of the smallest countries in Africa; despite this, its climate and topography are diverse, ranging from a cool and mountainous highveld to a hot and dry lowveld.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Eswatini</span>

Artifacts indicating human activity dating back to the early Stone Age have been found in the Kingdom of Eswatini. The earliest known inhabitants of the region were Khoisan hunter-gatherers. Later, the population became predominantly Nguni during and after the great Bantu migrations. People speaking languages ancestral to the current Sotho and Nguni languages began settling no later than the 11th century. The country now derives its name from a later king named Mswati II. Mswati II was the greatest of the fighting kings of Eswatini, and he greatly extended the area of the country to twice its current size. The people of Eswatini largely belong to a number of clans that can be categorized as Emakhandzambili, Bemdzabu, and Emafikamuva, depending on when and how they settled in Eswatini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mswati III</span> Monarch of Eswatini since 1986

Mswati III is the Ngwenyama (King) of Eswatini and head of the Swazi royal family. He heads an absolute monarchy, as he has veto power over all branches of government and is constitutionally immune from prosecution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ngwane National Liberatory Congress</span> Political party in Eswatini

The Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC) is a political party in Eswatini. It was founded on 12 April 1963 as a breakaway party from the Swaziland Progressive Party (SPP) led by Dr. J. J. Nquku.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People's United Democratic Movement</span> Political party in Eswatini

The People's United Democratic Movement is the largest opposition party in Eswatini. It is a democratic socialist party. Formed in 1983 at the University of Eswatini, it is led by Mlungisi Makhanya.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">KaNgwane</span> Bantustan in South Africa from 1984 to 1994

KaNgwane was a bantustan in South Africa, intended by the apartheid government to be a semi-independent homeland for the Swazi people. It was called the "Swazi Territorial Authority" from 1976 to 1977. In September 1977 it was renamed KaNgwane and received a legislative assembly. After a temporary suspension of its homeland status during 1982, the legislative assembly was restored in December 1982. KaNgwane was granted nominal self-rule in August 1984. Its capital was at Louieville. It was the least populous of the ten homelands, with an estimated 183,000 inhabitants. Unlike the other homelands in South Africa, KaNgwane did not adopt a distinctive flag of its own but flew the national flag of South Africa.

Sobhuza I was king of Eswatini, from 1815 to 1850. Born around the year 1788, his father was King Ndvungunye, and his mother was Somnjalose Simelane. He was called Somhlolo, meaning "Mysterious man", upon his birth because his father, Ndvungunye, was struck by lightning. When Sobhuza was king, Lojiba Simelane, instead of his mother, Somnjalose was Queen Mother because Somnjalose was an inhlanti or support bride to Lojiba. Somhlolo is a greatly revered king of Eswatini. He had his first royal capital or kraal at Zombodze in the Shiselweni region, but moved it north to new Zombodze in central Eswatini. Swazis celebrate Somhlolo Day every September 6 as their Independence Day and the national stadium is named Somhlolo National Stadium. Sobhuza was succeeded by his son Mswati II and his wife Tsandzile Ndwandwe as Queen Mother after a short regency by Queen Lojiba Simelane. Sobhuza by the time of his death had conquered a country claimed to reach to modern day Barberton in the north, Carolina in the west, Pongola River in the south and Lubombo Mountains in the east.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Political parties in Eswatini</span>

The status of political parties in Eswatini is not clearly defined.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eswatini Scout Association</span> Scout Association in Eswatini

The Eswatini Scout Association, is the national Scouting organization of Eswatini (Swaziland). The boys-only organization was founded in 1924, and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1968. In 2009, there were 6,850 members.

The Swaziland United Democratic Front is a coalition of pro-democracy interests including political parties, unions and churches. The Swaziland United Democratic Front was formed on 2 February 2008 at the Tum's George Hotel in Manzini, Swaziland, attended by 120 persons from various organizations but mainly from the following:

The Democratic Left Front was formed as a non-sectarian and non-authoritarian anti-capitalist front in South Africa. It was formed from the Conference for a Democratic Left launched in 2008, at an event held in Johannesburg in January 2011. It played a role in solidarity campaigns, most notably concerning the Marikana massacre. With the rise of the United Front, and following divisions within the DLF, the formation disappeared.

Tibati Madvolomafisha Nkambule, was the Queen Regent and Indlovukati of Swaziland from 1889 until 1894 during the minority of her grandson king Ngwane V.

Nukwase Ndwandwe was the Queen Mother of Swaziland, aunt of Sobhuza II, and the sister of Lomawa Ndwandwe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constitution of Eswatini</span> Constitution and fundamental law of Eswatini

The 2005 constitution is currently in force. The constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended 12 April 1973 by a State of Emergency decree imposed by King Sobhuza II, the father of the current King Mswati III. The decree gave absolute power to the monarchy and banned organised political opposition to royal rule.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sive Siyinqaba National Movement</span> Political party in Eswatini

The Sive Siyinqaba National Movement is a political party in Eswatini. It is led Ngomuyayona Gamedze as of 5 November 2022 as president, taking over from former Minister of Tourism Musa Nkambule and calls for a constitutional monarchy as a replacement for the absolute monarchy currently in place in Eswatini. Sive Siyinqaba National Movement also calls for a government by the people, for the people. The party's official colors blue and yellow stand for peace and wealth.

A series of protests in Eswatini against the absolute monarchy and for democratisation began in late June 2021. Starting as a peaceful protest on 20 June, they escalated after 25 June into violence and looting over the weekend when the government took a hardline stance against the demonstrations and prohibited the delivery of petitions. Lower-level unrest and protests continued until summer 2023.

Mlungisi Makhanya is a Swazi politician and human rights defender. He is the president of the People's United Democratic Movement. He previously served as Secretary General of the party during the presidency of longtime leader Mario Masuku.

References

  1. "Swaziland: Current political parties". Electoral Institute of Southern Africa. June 2009. Archived from the original on 2011-06-03. Retrieved 2009-10-16.