Incorrect Chief Codes on identity documents could leave Emaswati facing delays when applying for scholarships, military recruitment and other government services.
The warning was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs Ministerial Communications Officer and spokesperson Mlandvo Dlamini during an interview on Eswatini TV’s Kusile Breakfast Show on August 18, 2026.
Dlamini urged citizens to check whether the Chief Code reflected on their identity documents corresponds with their actual chiefdom, saying discrepancies could create difficulties when documentation from traditional leaders is required.
He explained that the Chief Code forms part of the country’s civil registration system and identifies the chiefdom under which a citizen is registered.
“The Chief Code is extremely important; otherwise, the government would not include it on identity cards or birth certificates if it were not essential,” Dlamini said.
He said the codes are used in processes including marriage documentation, military recruitment and scholarship applications.
According to Dlamini, some citizens have already experienced challenges because their Chief Codes do not correspond with the communities where they belong.
He said an applicant may, for example, be required to obtain a letter from a chief but be referred back to Home Affairs when the Chief Code on their records points to a different community.
“Chiefs are now very knowledgeable and understand how the system works. They refuse to sign documents that contain an incorrect Chief Code,” Dlamini said.
He placed particular emphasis on parents whose children are approaching 16, urging them to provide accurate information when applying for their children’s first identity cards.
Dlamini cautioned parents against automatically using the Chief Code of the area where they currently reside without confirming the child’s correct traditional affiliation.
“When a child is turning sixteen and needs a national ID card, make sure you provide the correct information regarding who their chief and headman are,” he said.
He said inaccurate information could follow young people into adulthood and create complications when they apply for opportunities requiring verification of their records.
Dlamini also encouraged people who have permanently relocated to new communities to update their Chief Codes through the Ministry of Home Affairs.
He said applicants should obtain confirmation from the new community and submit the required documentation, after which the information can be updated on the ministry’s system.
“Updating it in the system is just a matter of a minute; the only step remaining is taking the photograph for the ID card,” he said. Replacing an identity card costs E300, while the first identity card issued to a 16-year-old is free.
The warning comes as the Elections and Boundaries Commission continues civic and voter education ahead of elections, with questions emerging around the relationship between voters’ registration details and their traditional communities.
Dlamini stressed that Home Affairs does not administer elections, as this falls under the independent EBC. However, he said accurate civil registration records remain important for reliable national administration and can assist in identifying inconsistencies in information linked to chiefdoms.
He urged Emaswati to check their documents now rather than waiting until they encounter problems while seeking government services.
The ministry is also calling on chiefs and royal princes to work with Home Affairs to ensure that information on subjects under their jurisdiction remains accurate and up to date.
