BY MBONGENI NDLELA
MBABANE – His Majesty King Mswati III will this Friday, February 9 deliver His Speech from the Throne setting the tone for what is expected to be done by parliamentarians during the 1st session of the 12th Parliament.
Legislative Council Building – LEGCO, 1967
Though late last year Emaswati from the four regions of the country and delegates from outside the borders including Diplomats attended the Sibaya People’s Parliament to discuss burning issues involving how to improve government service delivery and other issues, the King is expected to issue some directives in His Speech from the Throne which will serve as guidance on how the Kingdom could achieve further development.
On Friday, the State Opening will mark the start of a parliamentary year, which is usually referred to as a Session.
The Constitution provides that ‘there shall be a Session of Parliament at least once in every year.
Here is what you should know about State Opening:
History of State Opening.
His Majesty King Sobhuza ll – Delivering his Speech from the Throne September 1969 – Lobamba
The traditions surrounding the State Opening and delivery of a speech by the Monarch can be traced back to the British model of Westminster Government, which pre-dated from as early as the 16th century. Eswatini, like most Commonwealth Countries, inherited this tradition from the British Colonial Masters when the Country was still under colonial rule. On Independence Day, the 6th of September 1968, His Majesty King Sobhuza II, delivered the first Speech from the Throne in Parliament (Official State Opening Address).
Procedure
The Procedure of the State Opening Address is largely provided by the Standing Orders of both Houses of Parliament. House of Assembly Standing Order 14 provides for the announcement of the time of His Majesty’s Address. Standing Order 15 provides for the reporting of the Opening Address. The State Opening is when His Majesty reads the Speech from the Throne, which sets out the Government’s agenda and key legislative plans. The Speech from the Throne could be considered as one of the many factors that influence government policy which could be aligned with any national development strategy or plan bestowed upon the responsibility of Cabinet by the Constitution.
Legislative Council, 09 November 1964-1967
(additional information sourced from Eswatini Parliament web)
