By Mbono Mdluli
MBABANE – The legislatures of Eswatini and Hungary have established relations to facilitate the exchange of knowledge about their operations.
This partnership was formalized on January 28, 2025, during a visit by Hungarian legislators who arrived at Parliament on motorbikes. Upon their arrival, they were welcomed by Clerk to Parliament Benedict Xaba and members of the parliamentary staff.
The Hungarian legislators were briefed on Eswatini’s governance system and the functioning of its Parliament. Xaba, who expressed satisfaction with their visit, noted that the timing was opportune as Parliament is preparing to host Their Majesties during its opening this coming Friday.
He mentioned that preliminary negotiations had commenced on how the two legislatures could collaborate for the development of both nations. Xaba highlighted that Eswatini’s Parliament is currently evaluating its operations in comparison to other parliaments worldwide.
Xaba further noted that the visit provided an opportunity to assess the operational model of the Hungarian Parliament. For instance, he observed that the Hungarian Parliament has a head of protocol, a position currently absent in Eswatini’s Parliament. He added that the possibility of establishing a protocol department had already been discussed with the Parliamentary Service Board (PSB), which is overseeing Parliament’s restructuring.
Katalin Somfai, Head of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Group in the Hungarian National Assembly, expressed her satisfaction with the visit and their readiness to establish relations with Eswatini’s Parliament. She mentioned that Hungary has already built relationships with parliaments from countries like Rwanda and Switzerland. Somfai also shared her optimism that the budding relationship with Eswatini’s Parliament would be enduring.
