Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu Biography – Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Wiki
Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu (Mantfombi Shiyiwe Dlamini Zulu, Princess of eSwatini, Queen Regent of the Zulu) was the queen consort of the Zulu Nation from 1977 to 2021 as the Great Wife to King Goodwill Zwelithini. She served as the queen regent from March 2021 to April 2021. She was born in 1953 to the House of Dlamini. Her father Sobhuza II, as Ngwenyama of the Swazi Nation, became the King of Swaziland at independence in 1968. Her brother, Sobhuza’s successor Mswati III, would ultimately change their country’s name to Eswatini in 2018. Her family also forged links with other African dynasties: her brother, Prince Thumbumuzi Dlamini, married into the Mandela chieftaincy family of Mvezo in the same year as her betrothal. Through this union, she gained Zenani Mandela-Dlamini as a sister-in-law. She was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
After a traditional upbringing in the Swazi royal family, being a princess, she was betrothed to King Goodwill Zwelithini of the Zulu Nation in 1973. At the time of their betrothal, she was a member of the royal family of a sovereign state. Her intended husband was a chief recognized by the South African government as the traditional authority of Zululand. Considering their relative dynastic seniority, the Swazi palace laid a condition for the marriage: the princess was to become the King’s Great Wife, a position that would give her male children first place in the line of succession. The Zulu agreed, and the couple married in 1977.
She was appointed as the interim leader of the Zulu Nation under the title of the queen regent, on March 24, 2021, after the death of His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini on March 12, 2021. This was in accordance with HM King Zwelithini’s will, and she was set to temporarily serve in this capacity until the next Zulu King was appointed. She would be the one to appoint the next King; her first son, Prince Misuzulu Zulu, was believed to have been her choice.
Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu Age
She was born on February 15, 1953 and died on April 29, 2021 at the age of 68.
Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu Husband
She was married to her husband, His Majesty King Goodwill Zwelithini from 1977 until March 12, 2021, upon his death. She was betrothed to King Goodwill Zwelithini of the Zulu Nation in 1973.
Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu Children
She had eight children; Prince Lungelo Zulu, Prince Simangaye Zulu, Prince Mandlesizwe Zulu, Prince Bambindlovu Makhosezwe Zulu, Princess Nomkhosi Zulu, Princess Bukhosibemvelo Zulu, Princess Ntandoyesizwe Zulu, and Prince Misuzulu Zulu.
Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu Death
She died on April 29, 2021. Prince Buthelezi confirmed that she died around 20:15 at the Netcare Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg. Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi described her death as unexpected. KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala called the news heart-wrenching and said the Queen was a bridge between the Zulu and eSwatini nations. He called her leadership role an inspiration for women, which helped to administer the final burial rites to the backward, patriarchal, and chauvinistic tendencies that considered women as inferior beings. On April 27, 2021, the royal family confirmed that Queen Mantfombi Dlamini had been hospitalized.
She will be buried at night and in the palace of Khangela in Nongoma, northern KZN. The private burial of the queen and sister of King Mswati III, will take place in private and in the thick of dawn (all Swati royals are buried like this) on Thursday.
Queen Mantfombi Dlamini Zulu Cause of Death
She died on April 29, 2021. The Queen had been suffering from a long-term illness, this was known to the palace but not revealed publicly.
