[3][4] Dlamini was a candidate, backed by the Swazi government, for the position of Chairperson of the African Union Commission in early 2008.

[7] Following the September 2008 parliamentary election, Dlamini was reappointed as prime minister by Mswati III on 16 October 2008.

Jan Sithole, the Secretary-General of the Swaziland Federation of Trade Unions, was critical of the appointment, saying that Dlamini worked to "suppress political organisations and advance the strong rule of the monarchy" during his earlier period as prime minister; he also accused Dlamini of "strong-hand tactics and lack of respect for the rule of law".

Opposition leader Mario Masuku, the President of the People's United Democratic Movement, said that Dlamini "was not appointed on merit but on his level of allegiance to the king".

[11] On 15 March 2014, he married Pastor Joy Nonjabulo Gladness Maziya; however, Dlamini filed for divorce just over two years later, on 1 April 2016.