By Princess Eugene Majuru
Harare, Zimbabwe (News of The South) – In a shocking move the Zimbabwe National Museum and Monuments made an application to the Zvimba District council seeking permission to remove human remains from the Cyber city development site in Mount Hampden, flagship for Zimbabwe’s technology ambitions as Zimbabwe races to be the first African Country to have a “Smart City”. The Mount Hampden area in Zimbabwe is well known to be a part of King Mbari’s territory, King Mbari the late King of Harare after who Harare was named after. The Mbari clan habe expressed shock at the level of disrespect being displayed by National Museums who act on behalf of the government.
The hill where the new parliament of Zimbabwe is located has a traditional name, it’s called Tsikwi, since Independence Zimbabwe has failed to revert to its original name and the country is still using the name Mount Hampden. Another imporatnt hill in Harare also has it’s traditional name of Chihoka but Zimbabwe is maintaining a colonial name of Kopje. Its time Zimbabwe sorts these names out. There is no reason why Zimbabwe should be maintaining the colonial names, the airport in Mount Hampden is still named Charles Prince airport, as Zimbabweans why are we maintaining these names?
Zvimba rural district council was made the Administrators of Mount Hampden due to the area of Harare, Mazoe and Mount Hampden (Mbari’s territory) not having a traditional leader.
National Museums and Monuments is headed by Dr Godfrey Mahachi who is well aware of Zimbabwean culture and tradition as well as has the knowledge that the Mbari clan are in charge of the area. In order to remove human remains from the area consultation has to take place with the Mbari people who have to carry out some rituals and traditional amd cultural ceremonies to seek the blessings of their ancestors who are also buried in the area. Some residents in Mount Hampden also have graves for their loved ones in the area and they were told to dig up the remains of their families as failure would lead to the government doing it for them.
Stranger than fiction but when spiritual problems happen in Harare and King Mbari’s territory the same government is quck to approach the Mbari clan to do ceremonies to seek blessings and permission to carry out work which they want done. A simple example is the building of the new parliament in Mount Hampden, before the Parliament was built workers were failing to work there as they would constantly see white lions associated with the Mbari clan.
Another exsmple is the building of Dzivarasekwa barracks in Harare was a big problem as every morning they would find the building work demolished every morning, it took 7 attempts for the barracks to finally be built. Every morning the builders found the structures they would have worked on the previous day all destroyed but they never saw who did it. One night security was hired to watch the site but even wirh security present the structures were demolished in the morning. At that point they devided to seek assistance from the Mbari clan the owners of the land as the whole problem was sporitual. Large snakes were also being sited when they dug up the fround and Chinese builders were startung to eat the snakes) snakes are a delicacy for Chinese people) The Chinese were told to stop eating the snakes as they were spiritual. The Mbari clan then did a traditional ceremony to communicate with the Ancestors and ask for permission to build on the site. Only after this ceremony was done were the builders able to build the Dzivarasekwa barracks.
There are numerous problems associated with not respecting spiritual or sacred areas in Zimbabwe, we know Mount Nyangani to be another area who people disappear should they do or say certain things that show a lack of respect to the area and owners of the land. People suddenly disappear and never get found again.
The unveiling of Mbuya Nehanda statue took place in Harare’s CBD at corner Julius Nyerere way/Samora Machel, this ceremoney went without the blessing of the Mbari clan, the Mbari were totally ignored, they were not consulted or even invited to the event which in our Zimbabwean culture makes it kids play or (mahumbwe). If any couple decides to get married in Zimbabwean culture without the blessings of the parents that marriage is not recognised thats why it is always important to get blessings of both families.
Zimbabwe is a spiritual country and no one can ignore that no one can ever change it as well. There are certain traditions that should always be followed, in any country in the World culture and tradition is always followed and it defines a people.
Harare Princess Royal Princess Eugene Majuru has irged Mbari clan members to desist from being used for fire fighting purposes when spiritual problems occur in King Mbari’s territory but rather push for the resuscitation of Mbari’s Kingdom. Robert Mugabe the late and former Presidnt of Zimbabwe failed to reslove this problem during his days and from them on problems keep mounting in Zimbabwe. All land in Zimbabwe falls under different clans, there is no land in Zimbabwe which does not belong to anyone.
Residents in Mount Hampden who graves are due to be destroyed are very heart broken as it is not a good thing to dig up remains of family members who died many years ago.
It is interesting to see what happens next. Curent traditional Chiefs and leaders are fsiling to advise the country on spiritual matters and watch as the country goes round with simple problems which can be resolved easily. The role of traditional leaders is to give guidance and assistance when problems relating to culture and teadition arise but for now we see that most of them are sitting around waiting for new vehilces to be bought for them. Traditional leaders should play their roles amd serve the people accordingly, that way Zimbabwe can go far.
The unveiling of the Nehanda statue in Harare went without the blessings of the Mbari people who own the land, they were not inclised on any meetings or in decision making efforts. We saw Chiefs from outsife Harare coming kuzoombera but how valid was that? The Mbari were ignored and not even invited to attend the ceremony, how disrespectful. The Chiefs who were invited failed to advise the government that such an event couldn’t take place without the blessings of the land owners. When one examines the whole thing it then becomes clear as to what happened to some of the people who took part in the ceremony.
Chief Zvimba has no shame to claim Mount Hampden as his territory, Mount Hampden belongs to Mbari, very soon Zimbabwe will experience spiritual problems in Mount Hampden and we wait to see how Chief Zvimba will resolve them. Chief Zvimba should never be allowed to carry out any traditional rituals on our sacred shrine or in Mbari’s terrtory as this will have a bearing on the Mbari clan.
Zvimba annexed land from all chiefs surrounding his area using former President Robert Mugabe and former minister Ignatius Chombo. All this was done in a very corrupt manner and must be stopped.
The Mbari Clan are the custodians of the area which belongs to the clan, areas are Harare, Mazowe and Mount Hampden. The clan previoisly applied to the government through the department of National Museums and Monuments to declare, protect and maintain the following main sacred heritage sites in Harare and Mazowe; Harare Kopje (Chihoka/Katsimenhurikwa) hill, Mutondomumwe Caves (Confluence of Mukuvisi and Manyami river) Harare. Gase Caves (Ruzende Hills) Mazowe, Mbewe Caves (Adjacent Mazowe Dam) Mazowe, Dzivarasekwa Caves in Harare, Cherunje Hills in Mazowe Gomba area, Mhandakota Hills in Concession Mazowe,
The Clan will provide on-site detailed narrative of the sacredness of each stated site so more Zimbabweans can understand the history that comes with each sacred area.
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