Africa-Press – Eswatini. Hundreds of thousands of emaSwati are set to benefit from free legal assistance, as the Eswatini Legal Aid Bill is expected to become an Act of Parliament during the course of 2026.
The Bill is regarded as a significant step towards improving access to justice, particularly for underprivileged and marginalised groups, ensuring they are able to assert and defend their rights.
The Legal Department under the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs confirmed that Parliament had passed the Bill and that the ministry had received the official report to that effect. What is left now is for His Majesty the King’s signature to be appended to the Bill so that it becomes an Act of Parliament.
It has further emerged that Eswatini Legal Aid, comprising Government lawyers, is in the process of finalising the entity’s constitution in order to commence operations without delay once the legislation comes into force.
In December, the Ministry, through Eswatini Legal Aid, successfully hosted training on Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), facilitated by Judge Justice Ossumane from Mozambique and supported by UNDP Eswatini.
The capacity-building initiative was designed to strengthen the ability of Legal Aid Officers to resolve disputes more efficiently by applying ADR mechanisms such as mediation, conciliation and negotiation. These approaches are expected to play a key role in reducing case backlogs, easing pressure on the courts and providing quicker, more cost-effective justice solutions, particularly for vulnerable and marginalised members of society.
Through the training, Legal Aid Officers were equipped with practical skills to enhance service delivery and support the Ministry’s broader mission of ensuring accessible, people-centred justice for all.
The Ministry expressed appreciation to Judge Justice Ossumane and UNDP Eswatini for their continued partnership and commitment to advancing justice sector reforms in the country.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Prince Simelane, met with Judge Justice Ossumane during his visit to the Kingdom to conduct the specialised ADR training for Legal Aid Officers. The engagement underscored the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacity and promoting efficient, people-centred justice solutions.
The Eswatini Legal Aid Bill, which has been under active legislative consideration during 2024–2025, seeks to establish a formal Legal Aid Commission to provide State-funded legal representation to indigent citizens. The proposed law is intended to address longstanding gaps in access to justice, moving beyond the current limited framework in which legal aid is largely confined to criminal defence and, in some cases, advisory services without court representation.
Key aspects of the Legal Aid Bill and related reforms include:
Purpose: To establish a comprehensive legal aid scheme for individuals unable to afford legal services.
Legislative progress: The Bill underwent clause-by-clause review in the Senate in May 2025 alongside the Legal Practitioners (Amendment) Bill.
Scope: The initiative aims to provide legal assistance across a broader range of legal matters, expanding beyond the current restricted system.
Collaboration: The Ministry is partnering with institutions such as the Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration Commission (CMAC) to widen access to justice.
Support: Development of the Bill has been supported by UNDP Eswatini since 2012.
