BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – The Ministry of Home Affairs has emphasised that Monday, April 27, 2026, is not a public holiday in Eswatini.
This follows growing uncertainty among emaSwati who had been seeking clarity on whether Monday would be observed as a holiday following the commemoration of National Flag Day on Saturday. Questions had circulated in communities, workplaces and on social media, with many people asking whether government would move the holiday to Monday because it fell on a weekend this year.
National Flag Day Falls on Saturday
Saturday, April 25, 2026, marks National Flag Day, which commemorates the first official raising of the Eswatini national flag on April 25, 1967. The historic occasion symbolised a major national milestone, as the country’s own flag replaced the Union Jack, the British flag that had previously been used during the colonial administration era.
National Flag Day remains one of the country’s recognised commemorative days and is observed annually to honour national identity, sovereignty and the history of the kingdom. Because the day falls on a Saturday this year, many citizens believed it could be shifted to the following Monday, creating an additional long weekend.
Home Affairs Responds
Ministry of Home Affairs spokesperson Mlandvo Dlamini moved to clear the uncertainty by confirming that Monday would not be a public holiday. He said the ministry considered it important to publicly clarify the matter in order to put speculation to rest and ensure that the public, businesses and institutions were properly informed.
The clarification means government offices, schools, businesses and other institutions are expected to operate normally on Monday unless individual employers make separate arrangements.
What the Law Says
Public holidays in Eswatini are governed by the Public Holidays Act (Act No. 71) of 1938, which outlines the recognised holidays and how they are to be observed. Under the law (Section 2), when a public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday is generally observed as a public holiday.
The legislation also provides a special arrangement for Boxing Day when it falls on a Monday, allowing the following Tuesday to be observed as a holiday. However, there is no automatic provision in the law requiring a holiday that falls on a Saturday to be moved to the next working day.
As a result, holidays that fall on Saturdays are normally observed on that day unless government issues a separate directive. This legal position explains why Monday, April 27, 2026, will remain an ordinary working day despite National Flag Day falling on a Saturday.
Minister May Amend Holidays
The law further grants the Minister for Home Affairs authority to make adjustments to public holiday arrangements through publication in the Government Gazette. This means where government deems it necessary, changes may be announced officially to alter how certain holidays are observed in a particular year.
Such adjustments are usually communicated in advance to avoid confusion among the public and employers.
Recent Example
This year, the actual King’s Birthday (April 19) fell on a Sunday, and was observed on Friday, April 24, 2026, rather than on the following Monday. That move demonstrated that government may, where necessary, make practical changes to the holiday calendar through official notice.
In the case of National Flag Day this year, no such amendment has been announced.
Public Urged to Take Note
The Ministry’s latest statement is expected to settle widespread debate that had emerged over the weekend. Citizens, employers and institutions have been urged to take note that Monday is not a public holiday and normal activities are expected to continue across the country.
