Heritage and Leadership Feature

 

For HRH Princess Eugene Majuru, Princess of Harare, royalty is not about crowns, ceremonies, privilege or public recognition. It is about ancestry, sovereignty, sacrifice, spiritual responsibility and the courage to confront uncomfortable truths. As a descendant of the Mbari royal lineage, she sees her position as a lifelong commitment to defending heritage, protecting ancestral identity and speaking for those whose voices have been silenced.

 

A title rooted in ancestry, not ambition

When people ask HRH Princess Eugene Majuru what inspired her to become the Princess of Harare, the question often reveals a wider misunderstanding about African royalty.

 

For some, royal titles are associated with luxury, influence, prestige and ceremonial appearances. For others, they are simply symbols of historical importance.

 

For Princess Eugene Majuru, however, the title represents something far more profound.

“I did not wake up one morning and decide that I wanted to become a princess. I was born into an ancestral lineage. My responsibility was to recognise that inheritance, understand its meaning and accept the duties that come with it,” she explains.

 

As a descendant of King Mbari and the Mbari royal house, associated with the Shumba Gurundoro lion totem, she identifies her heritage with the historical foundations of Harare and the wider ancestral territories of the Mbari people.

 

Her royal identity is inseparable from her commitment to preserving the history of a people whose traditional authority, she argues, has not received the recognition it deserves.

 

For her, the title Princess of Harare is not something to be worn for personal advancement. It is a public expression of ancestral identity, cultural continuity and responsibility.

 

“A royal title without responsibility is merely decoration. True royalty must have a purpose. It must serve the people, protect heritage, defend what is right and preserve what our ancestors entrusted to us.”

 

The Sovereignty Custodian: A responsibility beyond ceremonial royalty

Beyond her title as Princess of Harare, Princess Eugene Majuru describes herself as a Sovereignty Custodian, a role she considers among the most demanding responsibilities associated with her ancestral inheritance.

 

Sovereignty custodianship, as she understands it, extends beyond the preservation of cultural traditions. It involves defending the historical identity, dignity, ancestral rights and continuity of a people.

 

It requires an understanding of the relationship between traditional authority, land, history, spirituality, governance and the rights of communities.

 

It is not a responsibility that can be exercised only when circumstances are favourable.

 

Indeed, some of its most important duties arise precisely when situations become difficult.

 

“Being a Sovereignty Custodian means accepting responsibilities that many people would rather avoid. It means having difficult conversations, confronting what everyone dreads, questioning decisions that others are afraid to challenge and defending people who may not have the power or opportunity to defend themselves.”

 

She believes that genuine custodianship demands courage, integrity, patience, wisdom and an unwavering commitment to justice.

It also requires the willingness to stand alone.

 

There are occasions when protecting heritage means challenging powerful institutions. There are moments when defending the vulnerable means confronting influential individuals. There are circumstances when telling the truth may result in criticism, rejection or isolation.

 

Yet, in her understanding of sovereignty custodianship, silence cannot become an acceptable response simply because speaking out is uncomfortable.

 

“Sometimes the person who carries responsibility must enter rooms that others fear entering. You must raise questions that others avoid. You must confront injustice even when doing so comes at a personal cost. That is the burden of leadership.”

 

Being a voice for the voiceless

 

One of the central principles of Princess Eugene Majuru’s understanding of leadership is that authority must be exercised in service of others.

 

She believes the strength of a leader should not be measured by how many people fear them, but by how many people can rely on them when they face injustice.

 

Her role as Sovereignty Custodian includes advocating for individuals and communities who feel excluded, marginalised, ignored or powerless.

 

This may involve challenging unfair treatment, raising concerns about governance, defending cultural rights or drawing public attention to issues that authorities would prefer to overlook.

 

“Not everyone has the confidence, resources or opportunity to speak for themselves. Some people are intimidated by authority. Others have suffered so much that they have lost hope of being heard. When you are entrusted with a position of responsibility, you cannot simply watch them suffer.”

 

For Princess Majuru, defending others is not necessarily about agreeing with everything they say or automatically taking their side.

 

It is about ensuring that fairness, dignity, accountability and justice are not reserved for those with wealth, connections or political influence.

 

It is also about recognising that the voiceless are not always literally silent. Sometimes they have spoken repeatedly, but nobody in authority has listened.

 

“A voice for the voiceless is not someone who takes away people’s ability to speak. It is someone who helps ensure that their concerns cannot continue to be ignored.”

 

A spiritually rooted responsibility

 

Princess Eugene Majuru also places considerable emphasis on the spiritual dimension of her ancestral responsibilities.

 

Within her understanding of the Mbari royal tradition, custodianship is not simply a social or administrative function.

 

It carries spiritual significance, connecting the living generation with ancestral memory, sacred places, traditional obligations and the continuity of the royal house.

 

She regards this aspect of her role with particular seriousness.

 

“Mine is a spiritually rooted responsibility. It is not something I can switch on when it suits me and switch off when life becomes difficult. There are obligations attached to the heritage I carry, and those obligations demand discipline, respect and accountability.”

 

She believes that ancestral heritage cannot be reduced to public performances, cultural costumes or historical celebrations.

 

It must also be understood through the values, responsibilities and relationships that communities have preserved across generations.

 

For her, sacred places are not merely geographical locations. They form part of the historical and spiritual identity of the people connected to them.

 

The displacement of communities, the erosion of traditional structures and the disappearance of historical knowledge therefore raise questions extending beyond land administration or political governance.

 

They also concern memory, identity, belonging and cultural continuity.

 

However, Princess Majuru is equally clear that spiritual responsibility should never be confused with abandoning practical judgement.

 

Spirituality must walk alongside common sense

 

Perhaps one of the most distinctive aspects of Princess Majuru’s philosophy is her insistence that spiritual responsibility and common sense must work together at all times.

 

She rejects the idea that ancestral or spiritual leadership should operate without reason, evidence, careful judgement or accountability.

 

“Being spiritually guided does not mean abandoning common sense. In fact, the greater your responsibility, the more carefully you must think. You must understand situations, examine facts, listen to different perspectives and consider the consequences of your decisions.”

 

She believes that leadership becomes dangerous when individuals confuse personal emotions with spiritual instruction or use spirituality to avoid answering legitimate questions.

 

A Sovereignty Custodian, in her view, must remain grounded.

This means knowing when to speak, when to listen, when to negotiate and when to challenge.

It also means understanding that not every disagreement is a spiritual conflict, not every obstacle is an attack and not every problem requires a spiritual solution.

 

Some problems require legal intervention. Others demand dialogue, historical research, political engagement, administrative reform or practical community action.

 

“Common sense is essential. You cannot resolve every issue through emotion, anger or spiritual interpretation. You must be able to distinguish facts from assumptions and understand the realities of the world in which you are operating.”

 

Her approach brings together ancestral consciousness and contemporary reasoning.

 

She believes that traditional leadership should be capable of engaging with modern institutions without surrendering its cultural foundations.

 

For her, spirituality provides a sense of duty, while common sense helps determine how that duty should be carried out responsibly.

 

The difficult conversations nobody wants to have

 

Princess Majuru acknowledges that one of the hardest aspects of sovereignty custodianship is confronting sensitive issues that many people would rather leave untouched.

 

Questions surrounding ancestral authority, traditional leadership, land ownership, historical displacement and institutional recognition can generate significant resistance.

 

These are not always comfortable discussions.

 

They may involve examining established power structures, questioning historical narratives or asking why certain communities and royal lineages have been excluded from formal recognition.

 

In her advocacy for the restoration of the Mbari traditional leadership institution, Princess Majuru has consistently emphasised the importance of historical evidence, lawful processes and engagement with responsible authorities.

 

She maintains that the history of Harare cannot be fully understood without examining the people and traditional structures that existed before the modern city developed.

 

For her, the campaign is not simply about obtaining recognition for a title.

 

It concerns the restoration of historical dignity and the acknowledgement of ancestral institutions whose significance she believes has been diminished.

 

“Sometimes people know the history, but acknowledging it means confronting difficult questions about power, responsibility and justice. That is where the real challenge begins.”

 

She believes that genuine leadership must be prepared to address these questions without resorting to intimidation or hostility.

 

The purpose of difficult conversations, she argues, should be to establish truth, encourage accountability and identify fair solutions.

 

The burden of standing firm

Public leadership often comes with applause, recognition and admiration.

But Princess Majuru believes the most demanding responsibilities are frequently carried away from public attention.

Behind the title are long periods of research, meetings, correspondence, advocacy, disappointment and persistence.

There are occasions when progress appears possible, only for institutional processes to stall.

 

There are times when people privately acknowledge a historical concern but remain reluctant to support it publicly.

 

There are also moments when the emotional demands of advocacy become overwhelming.

 

“People see the title, but they do not always see the burden behind it. They do not see the difficult decisions, the sleepless nights, the doors that remain closed or the sacrifices involved in standing up for something you believe is right.”

 

Nevertheless, she believes that responsibility cannot depend entirely on immediate results.

Some struggles require patience across many years, and some forms of progress may only become visible to future generations.

This is particularly true of efforts to preserve ancestral history and restore cultural institutions.

 

She considers persistence essential, but also recognises the importance of knowing when to change strategy, seek advice or pursue alternative lawful avenues.

 

Royalty is service, not superiority

 

For Princess Eugene Majuru, an important distinction must be made between authority and superiority.

 

She does not regard royal ancestry as a justification for treating others as less important.

 

Instead, she believes it creates an obligation to demonstrate humility, discipline and service.

 

“Being born into a royal lineage does not make you more human than anybody else. It gives you responsibilities that you must be prepared to fulfil. The title should never become an excuse for arrogance.”

 

She argues that the legitimacy of leadership, in a moral sense, must be reflected in conduct.

 

A person may inherit a title, but respect must also be earned through character and action.

 

This requires the ability to acknowledge mistakes, receive criticism, treat others fairly and recognise that wisdom can come from people regardless of their social position.

 

It also requires emotional maturity.

 

Not every provocation deserves a response, and not every disagreement should become a confrontation.

 

“Sometimes leadership means speaking firmly. Sometimes it means exercising restraint. Knowing the difference is part of wisdom.”

 

Preserving the forgotten history of Harare

 

At the centre of Princess Majuru’s public advocacy is the history of the Mbari royal house and its connection to Harare.

 

Through her writing, historical research and public commentary, she has sought to bring greater attention to narratives she believes have been neglected in mainstream accounts of Zimbabwean history.

 

Her books, including Chosen: Mbari – The Forgotten Kings of Zimbabwe and A Concise History of Harare’s Mbari Clan, Harare: The Decline of a City, form part of that wider effort.

 

She has also addressed issues surrounding traditional authority, land, cultural identity and governance.

 

Her work reflects a belief that a nation’s development should not require the erasure of its ancestral foundations.

 

She argues that historical recognition and modern governance need not be enemies.

 

Instead, both can contribute to a more complete understanding of national identity when approached with honesty, fairness and respect for the law.

 

For Princess Majuru, documenting history is itself an act of custodianship.

 

Written records help ensure that future generations have access to the stories, questions and evidence necessary to understand their origins.

 

“History must not disappear simply because those who carry it are no longer here. We have a duty to document what we know, examine the evidence and preserve it for those who will come after us.”

 

A responsibility to future generations

Princess Majuru believes that sovereignty custodianship is ultimately concerned with continuity.

 

The present generation, in her view, does not own ancestral heritage absolutely. It inherits a responsibility to protect and transmit it.

 

That responsibility includes teaching younger generations about their history, encouraging cultural confidence and ensuring that ancestral institutions are understood rather than dismissed as irrelevant.

 

It also involves recognising that young people live in a changing world.

 

Preserving heritage does not mean rejecting education, technology, innovation or modern institutions.

 

Instead, she advocates a balance between historical identity and contemporary development.

 

“Our children must know where they come from, but they must also be equipped to succeed in the world they are entering. Heritage should give them a foundation, not become a barrier to their progress.”

 

She believes that cultural preservation becomes meaningful when it contributes to stronger communities, informed citizens and a deeper sense of belonging.

 

The courage to defend what is right

One of the defining qualities Princess Majuru associates with sovereignty custodianship is courage.

But she is careful to distinguish courage from aggression.

Courage, she argues, is not simply about confronting people loudly or refusing to compromise.

 

It is about having the strength to pursue what is right while remaining disciplined, fair and thoughtful.

 

It can mean challenging an unjust decision.

 

It can mean defending someone who has been unfairly treated.

 

It can mean asking uncomfortable questions in the presence of powerful people.

 

And sometimes it means acknowledging that one’s own position needs reconsideration in the light of new evidence.

 

“Defending what is right requires more than passion. You need knowledge, patience, strategy and integrity. You must be able to stand by your principles without losing your ability to reason.”

 

She believes that those entrusted with leadership should never allow fear, popularity or personal convenience to become the sole determinants of their decisions.

 

At the same time, she emphasises that confrontation must have a purpose.

 

The goal should be progress, justice and understanding rather than conflict for its own sake.

 

Beyond the crown: The woman behind the responsibility

 

Beyond her royal identity, Princess Eugene Majuru is also a writer, journalist, publisher, cultural advocate and creative entrepreneur.

 

As Editor-in-Chief of News of The South and founder of the CHOSEN podcast, she uses media and storytelling to explore heritage, leadership, African identity and contemporary issues.

 

Her work in publishing and the creative arts reflects her broader interest in ensuring that African voices, experiences and cultural contributions receive greater visibility.

 

These different activities may appear separate, but she sees them as connected by a common purpose.

 

Whether documenting historical narratives, examining governance, supporting artists or advocating for cultural recognition, her work is shaped by a commitment to representation and the preservation of identity.

 

For her, leadership is not confined to a traditional institution or ceremonial setting.

 

It can also be expressed through journalism, education, literature, community engagement and public advocacy.

 

A title that carries duty, not just distinction

 

Ultimately, Princess Eugene Majuru believes that the question should not simply be what inspired her to use the title Princess of Harare.

 

A more meaningful question, she suggests, is what she intends to do with the responsibility it represents.

 

Her answer is grounded in service.

 

She seeks to preserve the history of the Mbari royal house, advocate for the recognition of its ancestral heritage, challenge injustice and contribute to conversations about sovereignty, governance and cultural dignity.

 

She accepts that these responsibilities can be exhausting and that progress may be slow.

 

She also understands that leadership involves difficult choices, competing interests and the possibility of criticism.

 

Yet she maintains that responsibility must be approached with courage, humility, spiritual discipline and common sense.

 

“The title Princess of Harare is not something I carry for decoration. It is a reminder of where I come from, who came before me and what I owe to those who will come after me.

 

“As a Sovereignty Custodian, I must be prepared to have the conversations others fear, confront difficult realities, defend those who need protection and speak when silence would be easier.

 

“It is a spiritually rooted responsibility, but spirituality must always be accompanied by wisdom, sound judgement and common sense.

 

“I cannot claim to honour my ancestors while ignoring the suffering of the living. I cannot speak of sovereignty while remaining silent about injustice. And I cannot claim leadership if I am unwilling to accept its burdens.

 

“I did not choose my ancestry. I chose to accept the responsibility that comes with knowing who I am.”

 

For Princess Eugene Majuru, the crown is not the destination. It is a symbol of a duty that continues long after the ceremonies have ended, the applause has faded and the difficult work remains.

 

Her message is clear: Royalty is inherited, but leadership is demonstrated. Sovereignty carries responsibility. Spirituality requires wisdom. And true custodianship demands the courage to serve, protect and speak the truth, even when doing so is difficult.

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