MBABANE – Minister of Tinkhundla Administration and Development S’khumbuzo Dlamini has launched the first-ever Eswatini Local Government Conference, scheduled to take place from 4 to 6 June 2025.
The event, jointly organised by the Ministry of Tinkhundla Administration and Development and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, will gather around 500 participants under the theme: “Tinkhundla System of Government for One Country, One System of Local Government.”
Dlamini made the announcement earlier today, revealing that the gathering aims to support the implementation of Chapter XIII of the national Constitution, which speaks to the establishment of a unified local government system in the country.
He said the platform will allow for open dialogue on legislative reforms, drawing from public concerns raised during the 2018 and 2023 Sibaya national consultations.
To shape the development of the country’s draft local government legislation, officials from the two ministries held consultative sessions with counterparts in Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Ghana, and Rwanda. Dlamini noted that these engagements offered insight into diverse governance models and best practices adopted across the continent.
Five experts from these countries are expected to attend the upcoming conference and share their experiences with Eswatini’s policymakers and traditional leaders.
The conference programme will focus on four major topics:
- The coexistence and coordination of traditional leadership within a local government framework
- The political realities of unifying urban and rural governance
- Legislative reforms to support fiscal decentralisation and intergovernmental collaboration
- Aligning local development with Eswatini’s broader governance objectives
Youth participation and the role of urban local government will also be among the subjects tabled for discussion. Dlamini said the event offers a timely opportunity for citizens and leaders alike to deepen their understanding of the Tinkhundla system and its potential for shaping a cohesive governance structure across the country.
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