King Mswati III is the latest monarch of the Dlamini dynasty, under which Swazi kingdom expanded and contracted in conflicts with neighboring groups. Britain declared the kingdom a protectorate to prevent Boer expansion in the 1880s and assumed administrative power in 1903. In 1968, Swaziland regained its independence, and an elected parliament was added to the traditional kingship and chieftaincies. Sobhuza II, Mswati s predecessor who died in 1983, ended the multiparty system in favor of the tinkhundla system in 1973. Political Rights and Civil Liberties Swazis are barred from exercising their right to elect their representatives or to change their government freely.
Royal decrees carry the full force of law.
The king rejected an official 1993 report suggesting multiparty elections, and the bicameral legislature of indirectly elected and appointed members is mostly window dressing to royal rule. The 55 members of the House of Assembly elected in October with low voter turnout were government-approved. They will be joined by ten direct royal appointees. The King also appoints 20 members of the Senate, with the remaining ten selected by the National Assembly. The judiciary is generally independent in most civil cases, although the royal family and government can influence the courts.