By Musa Mdluli

MBABANE:King Mswati says eSwatini will soon establish the Council of Chiefs to complete the country’s constitutional governance structure.

Addressing the Ghana’s National House of Chiefs in Kumasi on Wednesday, the King said establishing the Council of Chiefs would place eSwatini as one of the African countries will formalized traditional leadership, Government online platforms reported.

“Having a Council of Chiefs would place Eswatini as one of several African nations with formalised Houses of Chiefs or similar traditional leadership structures.This new Council will serve as a platform for chiefs to advise the state on matters of tradition, custom, and cultural preservation, reinforcing their pivotal role in Eswatini’s monarchical democracy.The King said the country’s commitment to this structure underscores a political will to harmonising tradition with modernity, ensuring that the wisdom of chiefs continues to shape national policies in a rapidly evolving world.Provision for such a structure is contained in Chapter 14 of the national Constitution and is said to align with a broader African trend of recognising traditional leadership within governance frameworks. The King emphasised that Eswatini’s chiefs, under the Tinkhundla system, are central to the Nation’s identity, administering communities, resolving disputes, and upholding the values of ubuntu- unity, respect, and progress. The new Council of Chiefs will amplify their role, ensuring their centuries-honed wisdom informs national laws and policies,” reads the Government online report.

On another note, the King who applauded Ghana traditional leadership for preserving culture,paid tribute to Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and Eswatini’s King Sobhuza II for their visionary leadership in securing independence for their Nations while safeguarding traditional governance structures.