Mary Mdziniso (1924 – 1 June 2000) was a Swazi educator and politician. She was appointed to the Senate in 1968, becoming the country's first female member of Parliament.
Mary Mdziniso | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Senate | |
| In office 1967–1998 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1924 Bhobokazi, Swaziland |
| Died | 1 June 2000 |
Biography edit
Mdziniso was born in Bhobokazi in Manzini District in 1924.[1] Her mother died while giving birth and her father (Efrom Dlamini) took her to the mission at Bethany in South Africa.[1] Aged four, she was transferred to a mission at Mbuluzi, where she was fostered by Mary Peak Brown, whose first name she took.[1] In 1929 she started her education at Mbuluzi Girls' School.[1]
After leaving school in 1937,[1] she attended Inanda Seminary School in Natal, where she trained to be a domestic science teacher.[2] After three years of training, she returned to Mbuluzi Girls' School and began teaching.[1] During her time in Inanda, she met Mdziniso, who was training to be a pastor. The couple married in 1947.[1] She subsequently worked at the Swazi National High School.[2] In 1965 she entered the civil service as a Domestic Science Field Officer in the Ministry of Agriculture.[2] She founded the Lutsango lwaka Ngwane women's organisation two years later.[1]
Following the 1967 elections, Mdziniso was appointed to the Senate by King Sobhuza II,[3] becoming the first female member of parliament.[4] In 1994 she became Deputy President of the Senate,[5] remaining a Senator until 1998.[1] She also served on the board of the Swazi Red Cross and Dairy Board,[2] and was awarded an honorary doctorate of law by the University of Swaziland.[1]
She died on 1 June 2000.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Shokahle R. Dlamini (2002) "Swazi Women's Professionalism: The Power that Lies in Money and in Books, 1920 to 1950", Asian Women, volume 15, pp95–120
- ^ a b c d Mary Mdziniso Portrait of a Swazi Woman
- ^ Christian P. Potholm (2021) Swaziland: The Dynamics of Political Modernization, 127
- ^ "Leave no woman behind in political decision making" Gender Links
- ^ Election of Deputy President of Senate Swaziland Government Gazette, 18 March 1994