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.
Queen Dzeliwe opposed this dismissal, and this led to her being replaced by Ntfombi of Eswatini (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 1987, twelve people were accused of sedition and treason in relation to the overthrow of Queen Regent Dzeliwe in 1983.