Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership

Heads of State of Swaziland

Also see Swaziland Ministers



1780 Reigning Queen Mother The Ndlovukati Layaka Ndwandwe

She was from the Ndwandwe I Nxumalo Clan

1815 Reigning Queen Mother The Ndlovukati Lakubheka Mndzebele 

Later Joint Head of State 

1836-40 Reigning Queen Mother The Ndlovukati Lojiba Simelane 

Later Joint Head of State 

1868-75 Reigning Queen Mother The Ndlovukati Thandile Ndwandwe I Nxumalo

Later Joint Head of State. 

1889-94 Reigning Queen Mother The Ndlovukati Tibati Nkambule 

1894-99 Joint Head of State 

1899-1921 Reigning Queen Mother, The Ndlovukati Latotsibeni Gwamile Mduli / laMvelase (10-12-22.12)
1921-25 Joint Head of State
Ndlovukati means Queen Mother, The Great She-elephant. She was succeeded by her grandson King Sobhuza II (1899-1921-1983). She died 1925.

1925-38 Joint Head of State The Ndlovukati Lomawa Nxumalo Ndwandwe (16.12-15.8)
Married to King Subituza II (Mother of)

1938-57 Joint Head of State The Ndlovukati Nukwase Nxumalo Ndwandwe (19.8-15.9)
Married to King Subituza II

1957-75 Joint Head of State The Ndlovukati Zihlathi Ndwandwe (18.9-22.1)
Married to King Subituza II

1975-? Joint Head of State The Ndlovukati Seneleleni Ndwandwe
Married to King Subituza II. It is not clear when she was succeeded as The Ndlovukati by Dzeliwe Shongwe.

1981-85 Queen Mother The Ndlovukati Dzeliwe Shongwe
1982-83 Reigning Queen Mother (21.8-9.8)
The senior of the 50 widows of King King Sobhuza II, she was appointed regent, but  was deposed by her successor, the mother of the prince chosen to succeed his father as King Mswati III. She lived (1927-2003)

1983-86 Queen Regent and Head of State Ntombi laTfwala (18.9-25.4)
1985-86 Reigning Queen Mother The Ndlovukati
1986- Joint Head of State (Queen Mother The Ndlovukati)
According to the constitution the Ndlovukati and King are Co-Heads of State and therefore she rules together with son king Mswati III (1968-1986-).