Dzeliwe

Dzeliwe
Dzeliwe
	An illustration of Dzeliwe produced by Voice of America
Queen Mother of Swaziland
Reign	1980–1983
Predecessor	Seneleleni Ndwandwe
Successor	Ntfombi Tfwala
King	Sobhuza II (until 1982); None (since 1982)
Queen regent of Swaziland
Regency	1982–1983
Predecessor	Sobhuza II (as king)
Successor	Ntfombi Tfwala (as queen regent)
Born	1927
Died	2003 (aged 75–76)
Spouse	Sobhuza II (died 1982)
Issue	Prince Khuzulwandle
House	Dlamini (by marriage)

Inkhosikati LaShongwe (born Dzeliwe Shongwe; 1927 – 2003) was queen regent of Eswatini between 1982 and 1983. She was a wife of King Sobhuza II of Eswatini, and with him had one child, Prince Khuzulwandle Dlamini.

After the death of her husband in August 1982, the Royal Congress named Dzeliwe as queen regent, and Prince Sozisa Dlamini as the "Authorized Person", or regent's advisor, until Prince Makhosetive, designated by the king as his successor, reached the age of eighteen. The Liqoqo (a traditional advisory body) supported her regency, but soon there were disagreements between her prime minister, Mabandla Dlamini, and other members of Congress led by Mfanasibili Dlamini. These problems continued until 25 March 1983, when Prince Mabandla was replaced by Prince Bhekimpi Dlamini. Queen Dzeliwe opposed this dismissal, and this led to her being replaced by Ntfombi (the mother of Prince Makhosetive), as regent later that year.

Prince Makhosetive was crowned on 25 April 1986 with the name of King Mswati III of Eswatini. In May, Mswati dissolved the Liqoqo, consolidating his power and reorganising the government. In May 1987, twelve people were accused of sedition and treason in relation to the overthrow of Queen Regent Dzeliwe in 1983. King Mswati created a special tribunal to judge these crimes against the King or the Queen Regent, in which the defendants did not have the right to legal representation. In March 1988, they were prosecuted by the tribunal, although they were set free in July.

Between 1981 and 1985, Queen Dzeliwe also maintained the post of Joint President of the National Congress.

She died in 2003.

References

^ "Issue: Queen Mothers of Swaziland (Swaziland, 2006)". TouchStamps. Retrieved 2025-12-10.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Siyinqaba (1984). "The Eswatini Monarchy". Africa Insight. 14 (1): 14–16.

Regnal titles

Preceded by

Sobhuza II of Swaziland

Queen Regent of Eswatini
1982–1983

Succeeded by

Ntfombi Tfwala

[1] "Issue: Queen Mothers of Swaziland (Swaziland, 2006)". TouchStamps. Retrieved 2025-12-10.

[siyinqaba-2] Siyinqaba (1984). "The Eswatini Monarchy". Africa Insight. 14 (1): 14–16.

[1]

[2]

v t e Monarchs of Eswatini (Swaziland)
Pre-modern Swaziland (until 1745)	Mkhulunkosi Qomizitha Sukuta Madlasomo Ndlovu Ngwekati Mawawa/Kuwawa Sidvwabasilutfuli Gebase Kunene Nkabingwe Madlabane Hhili Dulunga Dondobola Sihuba Mlangeni Msimudze Mbhondlo/Mbhondlo/Mbhoholo Tembe Sikhulumaloyo Langa Samuketi Nkomo Khabako Nkosi I: (1355–1400) Ngwane I: 1400–1435 Dlamini I (Matalatala): 1435–1465 Mswati I: 1480–1520 Ngwane II: 1520–1550 Dlamini II: 1555–1600 Nkosi II: 1600–1640 Mavuso I: 1645–1680 Magudulela: 1685–1685 Ludvonga I: 1685–1715 Dlamini III: 1720–1744
Modern Swaziland (1745–1906)	Ngwane III: 1745–1780 (the first King of modern Swaziland) LaYaka Ndwandwe (Queen Regent): 1780 Ndvungunye (Zikodze, Mavuso II): 1780–1815 Lomvula Mndzebele (Queen Regent): 1815 Sobhuza I (Somhlolo): 1815–1839 Lojiba Simelane (Queen Regent): 1836–1840 Mswati II (Mavuso III): 1840–1868 Tsandzile Ndwandwe (Queen Regent): July 1868 – June 1875 Crown Prince Ludvonga II (Macaleni) – never became King Dlamini IV (Mbandzeni): 1875–1889 Tibati Nkambule (Queen Regent): 7 April 1889 – 1894 Ngwane V (Mahlokohla): January 1895 – 10 December 1899 Labotsibeni Gwamile Mdluli (Queen Regent): 10 December 1899 – 31 March 1906
Paramount Chiefs under British rule (1906–1968)	Labotsibeni Gwamile Mdluli (Queen Regent): 31 March 1906 – 22 December 1921 Sobhuza II: 22 December 1921 – 2 September 1968
Kings of Swaziland (1968–2018)	Sobhuza II (1968–1982) Queen Dzeliwe (regent): 21 August 1982 – 9 August 1983 Prince Sozisa Dlamini (acting regent): 9 August 1983 – 18 August 1983 Queen Ntfombi (regent): 18 August 1983 – 25 April 1986 Mswati III (1986–present)
Kings of Eswatini (2018–present)	Mswati III (1986–present)
tiNdlovukati (Queen Mother/Doctor)	LaYaka Ndwandwe, 1745–1780 (Regent 1780) Lomvula Mndzebele, 1780–1815 (Regent 1815) Lojiba Simelane, 1815–1840 (Regent 1836–1840) Tsandzile Ndwandwe (LaZidze), 1840–1875 (Regent 1868–1875) Sisile Khumalo (Lamgangeni), 1875–1881 Tibati Nkambule (Madvolomafisha), 1881–1895 (Regent 1889–1895) Labotsibeni Mdluli (Gwamile, Lamvelase), 1895–1921 (Regent 1899–1921) Lomawa Ndwandwe, 1921–1938 Nukwase Ndwandwe, 1938–1957 Zihlathi Ndwandwe/Mkhatjwa, 1957–1975 Seneleleni Ndwandwe, 1975–1980 Dzeliwe Shongwe, 1980–1983 (Regent 1982–1983) Ntfombi Tfwala, 1983–present (Regent 1983–1986)