ESWATINI – From 2 to 6 December 2025, the Chandler Institute of Justice (CIJ), in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Office of the Attorney General of Eswatini, delivered a week-long Legislative Drafting and Law Reform Capacity Building Workshop in Mbabane. The programme brought together legal officers from the Attorney General's Office to build the drafting skills essential to translating government policy into clear, enforceable law.

Investing in the Architecture of Law

The workshop was a direct response to the accelerating pace of technological change and the growing demands placed on national legal systems. At the official opening, Attorney General Sifiso Khumalo underscored the urgency of the moment: as society evolves, legislation must evolve with it, and this training was designed to ensure that Eswatini's legal practitioners remain aligned with global standards and capable of drafting laws that are forward-looking, relevant, and responsive.

The initiative has its roots in a conversation two years earlier, when the Attorney General appealed to Commonwealth officials during a meeting in Tanzania for targeted support to strengthen Eswatini's drafting and law reform capacity. That appeal has since produced tangible results: the establishment of a Law Reform Unit in Parliament and a comprehensive review of laws that no longer reflect the realities of contemporary Eswatini. The programme was facilitated by Dr Johnson Okello, an internationally distinguished legislative drafter, and Mr Gad Awuonda, a legislative drafter and policy framer from Kenya.

A Shared Vision for Legal Modernisation

CIJ Executive Director Ron Chari praised the Attorney General's Office for its vision and leadership, describing the workshop as a testament to Eswatini's commitment to strengthening governance, democracy, and the rule of law. Dr Elizabeth Macharia Acting Head of the Rule of Law Section at The Commonwealth Secretariat offered a memorable reflection on the drafters' responsibility, likening legislative drafters to truck drivers navigating steep hills, a metaphor that captures the technical complexity and the high stakes involved in the legislative drafting process.

Participants welcomed the workshop as an opportunity to sharpen precision, clarity, and accountability in their drafting practice. By building the capacity of the government lawyers responsible for translating policy into law, this training contributes to a stronger, more resilient legal reform ecosystem across the country.

A country's laws are only as effective as the professionals who draft them. This investment in Eswatini's legal talent is an investment in its governance future.