The Kingdom of Eswatini took a significant step toward enhancing its own legal governance by hosting a targeted capacity-building program aimed mainly at strengthening the skills of its legal professionals. Directed by the Commonwealth Secretariat in partnership with the Chandler Institute for Justice, the workshop, which was carried out for four days, brought together law commissioners, legislative drafters, and government legal advisers in Mbabane to sharpen their abilities in legislative drafting and law reform.
Drawing 32 participants from across Eswatini’s government institutions, the event, which took place on 5th December, reflects the country’s commitment to improving the quality, clarity and accessibility of its laws. These efforts typically align with broader reform initiatives that are focused on strengthening the rule of law, enhancing governance systems, and advancing accountable public institutions.
Attorney General Hon. Sifiso Mashampu Khumalo, at the official opening, Eswatini and the Commonwealth Secretariat stressed that clear and well-crafted legislation is absolutely necessary and fundamental not only to the economic stability and democratic governance but also to the rule of law. Khumalo analysed that laws must be understandable and aligned with constitutional and legislative standards; otherwise, they fail the essential test of legality.
The Attorney General’s remarks echo a central challenge facing many legal systems: the demand for legislative texts that are typically not only technically accurate but also comprehensible to all stakeholders, including the practitioners, public, and institutions responsible for implementation. One can see how a legislative drafting programme such as this helps to bridge gaps in not only technical knowledge but also fosters a culture of legal excellence that supports transparent and accountable governance.
The Acting Head of the Rule of Law Section at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Dr Elizabeth Macharia, during the workshop spoke regarding the collaborative spirit that supports such initiatives. Using a powerful metaphor, she described the process of legislative drafting, symbolising it as “hill climbing”. A task that can be quick at certain times or dauntingly complex at others, but regardless of the process of the journey, the final destination ultimately being a reward is the highlight she was focused on implying. Dr Macharia encouraged participants to view the training as a pit stop to refuel and prepare for future challenges.
This stress on reflective learning supports a long-term vision and goal of nurturing legal professionals who are not merely reactive but strategically equipped enough to contribute to systemic law reform and to uphold legislative quality. By strengthening both individual skills and also institutional capacity, Eswatini is investing in a governance ecosystem capable of producing laws that effectively address national priorities, all the while aligning with the international standards.
Skilled legal advisors, Gad Awounda and Dr. Johnson Okello, President of the Commonwealth Association of Legislative Counsel (CALC), supervised the program, which featured hands-on activities and best-practice drafting approaches. Participants gained academic knowledge and practical experience through intensive engagement with systematic law reform methodologies, strengthening their understanding of legislative writing. In a rapidly changing world shaped by social, economic, and technological shifts, such training is vital to ensuring laws remain constitutionally sound, future-ready, and supportive of effective governance.
This programme has significantly broadened Eswatini’s governance scope. By not only encouraging cooperation between ministries and legal offices but also developing a network of skilled drafters, Eswatini’s determination to update its legal system is shown by its active engagement. Improved drafting capabilities will be very important to create laws that are transparent, fair, and sensitive to the demands of the public as the nation moves forward with its legislative review programme.
