A Progressive Association was founded in 1929 under the auspices of the Resident Commissioner of the British Empire.
[1] The Association was transformed into a party in 1959-1960 by Nquku, who had travelled and met many European and American politicians.
By appealing to the British government for democratic institutions to be included in the Swazi constitution, the SPP managed to secure a place in the 1964 general election.
However, when the election showed widespread support in Swazi society for King Sobhuza II, the party lost influence.
The SPP had a four-point program: Non-racial universal enfranchisement, opposition to incorporation into South Africa, adoption of the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, and integration of Swaziland's white minority and Swazi majority and ending racial discrimination.