14 Facts About Labotsibeni Mdluli

Labotsibeni Mdluli was born at Luhlekweni in northern Swaziland around 1859, the daughter of Matsanjana Mdluli.

Labotsibeni Mdluli's father passed away circa 1870, and she came under the guardianship of her uncle, the Chief, known as her 'babe mncane' in Swati culture.

Labotsibeni Mdluli served as an attendant to the old queen mother, Tsandzile, the widow of King Sobhuza I and mother of Mswati II.

Labotsibeni Mdluli played a leading role in opposition to the third Swaziland convention of 1894, which provided for the establishment, in February 1895, of a Transvaal protectorate over Swaziland.

Labotsibeni Mdluli's position was strengthened by the reckless behaviour of Bhunu, who established his own base at Mampondweni in the Mdzimba mountains above Zombodze.

Labotsibeni Mdluli was saved from deposition by the intervention of the British high commissioner in South Africa, Lord Milner, who held that the Transvaal's attempt to try him was ultra vires.

Labotsibeni Mdluli returned to Swaziland under British protection and a commission of inquiry imposed a fine on him, holding that he had allowed disorderly behaviour within his kingdom.

Labotsibeni Mdluli now became queen regent as well as queen mother and acted in the name of Bhunu's son, Mona, known as Nkhotfotjeni, who was chosen to succeed at the age of six months; he eventually became paramount chief, and later King Sobhuza II.

For most of the three-year crisis of the South African War, Labotsibeni Mdluli was, with the support of a co-regent, Prince Logcogco, and her council, the last independent ruler in Africa south of the Zambezi.

Labotsibeni Mdluli was largely successful in keeping Swaziland out of the war.

Labotsibeni Mdluli was not able to get support from his superiors for a plan to depose Labotsibeni and replace her by Mona, the infant heir.

Labotsibeni Mdluli was reported in 1914 as saying that 'as Swaziland would no doubt enter the Union at some future date she was in sympathy with any efforts tending towards the betterment of the conditions under which Union natives live, and for this reason her son Malunge had become a member of the Native Congress'.

Labotsibeni Mdluli transferred authority to him in the presence of the resident commissioner, de Symons Montagu Honey, at a ceremony on 22 December 1921.

Labotsibeni Mdluli died after a long illness at Zombodze on 15 December 1925 and was buried there.