The Hon Prime Minister Dr. Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini says Government is committed to ensuring women are represented at all levels in accordance with the national Constitution.

He was speaking when meeting a delegation of the SADC Women’s Parliamentary Caucus at the Cabinet Offices, Mbabane.

The Prime Minister believes Swaziland is on the right track in reaching the goal of gender parity. He noted that since time immemorial, the King reigns with the Queen Mother as a demostration of gender parity from the top. Leadership in Parliament also reflects gender parity as the President of Senate and the Deputy Speaker are women.

“We agree with you however that at member level will still need more women in our Parliament. We believe through civic education we can be able to change the mindset of other women who still think leadership belongs to men,” said the Prime Minister.

Dr. Dlamini emphasised that the electoral process in Swaziland under Tinkhundla governance is completely democratic as anybody can stand for elections and does not need to seek permission from any authority.

The delegation of the SADC Women’s Parliamentary Caucus was led by Hon. Beauty Dludla, MP (South Africa) and Hon. Getrude Imenda, MP (Zambia).

Among their findings was that a gender balanced approach is noticeable in the composition of leadership in positions of power and decision making in Government. They also noted that Swazis continue to exhibit an admirable sense of political maturity in their conduct and should be applauded for the high degree of political tolerance and peaceful demenour with which they view the Protocol on gender and development