MBABANE – The Kingdom of Eswatini is positioning itself for a major continental milestone as it vies for the Vice Presidency of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP).
Senator Tony Sibandze has officially entered the race, a move widely seen as a step towards elevating Eswatini’s profile on the global stage.
The PAP maintains strong ties with international institutions such as the European Parliament and other global forums.
The elections are scheduled to take place from April 29-30, 2026, in Midrand, South Africa, where the Parliament is headquartered.
Senator Sibandze, currently serving his second term in the Eswatini Senate, is about to complete two terms as a representative of the country at the PAP.
At home, he chairs the Senate Finance Committee and serves as Rapporteur of the PAP’s Committee on Monetary and Financial Affairs.
In 2023, Senator Sibandze led a delegation of the African Parliamentary Network on Internet Governance (APNIG), comprising members from Ghana, Nigeria, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya.
The APNIG is dedicated to strengthening the role of African parliamentarians in promoting digital development across the continent.
He previously served as both a member and treasurer of APNIG, which brings together more than 25 parliamentarians from over 25 African countries.
Eswatini’s growing presence in continental and global institutions has been notable in recent years.
In an interview, Senator Sibandze said: “With me, it’s not about myself or my personal ambition, it’s about the country and the continent. I want to serve the continent through my country. I am happy for the support I’m getting locally and internationally.”
The country recently produced Moses Vilakati, former Minister of Agriculture, who now heads the African Union’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment.
Beyond politics, Eswatini has also made its mark through professionals serving in leading international institutions such as the World Bank, African Development Bank (AfDB), International Monetary Fund (IMF), Southern African Development Community (SADC), Southern African Customs Union (SACU) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA).
One distinguished liSwati is Dumsani Masilela, the current Executive Secretary of SACU, who previously served with the IMF.
About the Pan-African Parliament
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) was established to ensure the full participation of African peoples in the economic development and integration of the continent. It serves as a platform for citizens from all African states to engage in discussions and decision-making on issues affecting the continent.
While PAP members are not directly elected by citizens, they are designated by the legislatures of their respective member states. The ultimate goal is for the PAP to evolve into a fully-fledged legislative body with members elected through universal suffrage.
Currently, the PAP holds consultative, advisory and budgetary oversight powers within the African Union (AU).
The AU Assembly adopted the Protocol to the Constitutive Act of the African Union Relating to the Pan-African Parliament during its June 2014 Summit (Assembly/AU/Dec.529(XXIII)). The Protocol will come into effect 30 days after a simple majority of AU Member States deposit their instruments of ratification.
As of September 2017, 15 Member States had signed the Protocol and five had deposited their instruments of ratification.
The 2014 Protocol stipulates that the PAP shall serve as the legislative organ of the AU, with authority to propose and recommend draft model laws for consideration by the AU Assembly.
It also provides for gender representation, requiring at least two women among each member State’s five representatives.
Functions of the Pan-African Parliament
The objectives and functions of the PAP, as set out in the Protocol to the Abuja Treaty and its Rules of Procedure, include:
- Facilitating and overseeing the implementation of AU policies, objectives and programmes.
- Promoting human rights, democracy, good governance, transparency and the rule of law across AU organs, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and member States.
- Raising public awareness about the AU’s objectives, policies, and programmes, while fostering continental solidarity, peace, security and economic development.
- Contributing to the harmonisation and coordination of Member States’ legislation
- Promoting the coordination of the RECs’ policies, measures, programmes and activities
- Preparing and adopting its budget and Rules of Procedure
- Electing its Bureau members
- Making recommendations on the AU budget
Structure of the Pan-African Parliament
The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is composed of five members from each member State that has ratified the Protocol establishing it. Each delegation must include at least one woman and reflect the diversity of political opinions represented in the national parliament or other deliberative body of that member State.
According to Rule 7(2) of the PAP Rules of Procedure, a parliamentarian’s tenure of office commences once he or she has taken the oath of office or made a solemn declaration during a PAP plenary session.
The term of office of each parliamentarian corresponds to the duration of their mandate in their national Parliament or the deliberative organ that elected or designated them.
The plenary, which constitutes the full Assembly of the Parliament, serves as the principal decision-making body. It is responsible for debating and adopting resolutions. The plenary comprises all representatives of the member States and is chaired by the President of the Parliament.
It is understood that Senator Sibandze’s candidacy marks a significant moment for Eswatini’s engagement in continental governance and diplomacy, reflecting the nation’s growing influence in shaping Africa’s future.
Senator Tony Sibandze.