By HRH Princess Eugene Majuru, Princess of Harare
Harate, Zimbabwe – For too long, a myth has lingered in Zimbabwe’s capital: that Harare has no royal family. It is a myth born not from truth, but from deliberate erasure. Colonial conquest tore apart the traditional structures of the land, scattering and silencing voices that once held authority. Yet what was buried was never destroyed. The Mbari clan, the true royal family of Harare, survived. And now, their time to reclaim their heritage has come.
Colonial Shadows: An Attempted Erasure
When the British arrived, their mission was not only to occupy land but to erase identity. Chieftainships across Zimbabwe were dismantled, ancestral connections severed, and narratives rewritten. Harare, once the seat of the Mbari, was declared a city without kings.
But to say Harare has no royal family is to say the Mbari do not exist. And they do.
Colonialism sought to destroy them through every means—cultural erasure, psychological warfare, forced displacement, even attempted genocide. Yet the plan backfired. The Mbari endured, preserving their bloodline, their memory, and their pride across generations.
Survival Against the Odds
Through colonialism, through the turbulence of independence, through decades of silence, the Mbari multiplied. Their survival was not by accident, it was by resilience. Against the odds, they held onto the knowledge of who they are: descendants of Harare’s first rulers.
Every living member of the clan is living testimony that erasure failed. Their very existence speaks louder than any colonial archive or denial.
The Call for Restoration
Now, the Mbari clan is no longer content with survival. They are in the process of reclaiming what was stolen their chieftainship, their heritage, and their rightful recognition as the royal family of Harare.
This is not just about titles or traditions. It is about justice. It is about restoring dignity to a people and to a land whose history has been twisted. To deny the Mbari is to deny Harare itself, because Harare was—and is—the land of the Mbari.
Why It Matters Today
In an age when many Zimbabweans are searching for cultural identity and historical truth, the restoration of the Mbari chieftainship is a powerful symbol. It is proof that history can be reclaimed, that colonial wounds can be healed, and that identity can rise from centuries of attempted erasure.
The resurgence of the Mbari clan is not only about one family. It is about every Zimbabwean who has felt the weight of erased histories. It is about a people reconnecting with the roots of their land.
The Return of the Forgotten Kings
The British once thought they could erase the Mbari from history. They failed. The clan lives, and their story is stronger than ever.
Now, the question is no longer whether the Mbari exist. They do. The question is: Will Zimbabwe recognise and honour them?
The royal family of Harare is not lost. It has returned.
Comments
About Author
