By David Bateman
(News Of The South) – The Harare Royal Family are the Mbari clan of the Shumba Gurundoro they ruled Harare as far back as the pre colonial period under the ruler King Mbari. King Mbari is well known for being a powerful King spiritually and physically, he was a man of great wisdom and was widely consulted in the region. Many travelled from neighbouring countries to receive his blessings guidance healing and much more.
He was also popularly known for appearing in three different places at the same time. He is known to have lived a very long life and died over the age of 200 years old. King Mbari was a multiskilled man who had great abilities. Many admired him for his abilities, skills, and kindness. Everyone who was in danger would go to King Mbari and seek protection and no one would come after them when he entered King Mbari Kingdom. He was a well-respected King.
Today some people are confused about the use of Harare, Harare Kingdom, the difference between the two is that Harare is the city as in the capital city of Zimbabwe, Harare Kingdom is the territorial area which forms the boundaries of King Mbari`s Harare Kingdom, it also includes the city of Harare. Harare Kingdom refers to the are Harare city, Seke, all the way to Marondera to the Waddilove area, Mount Hampden, Nyabira, Mazoe, Concession, the Great Dyke area up to Pote River, up to Mabvuku area, Domboshava and Chinamhora area. During King Mbari`s time the King gave away parts of his land for people to settle, those who do not know the history from way back claim the land has always been their land but they do not know the secrets of the land as well as the sacred areas.
In the olden days some of the Harare royal family who played special and important roles included the Mbonga`s who played the roles of looking after spiritual and sacred areas, these included Princess Moyochena who looked after the Africa unity square area, Moyochena was not allowed to have children or have intercourse as her source of power lay in these laws being maintained. Princess Anyerere was another Mbonga who looked after the area in Dzivarasekwa, the area where the Zimbabwe army barracks were built. She also played a very important role which extended to baby sitting the children of the Kingdom while their mothers went to do various talks.
Prince Mudavanhu was a powerful Prince, he was responsible for coordinating the first Chimurenga in Matebeleland and Mashonaland, he was possessed by the spirit of Mukwati and played a very important role in the Chimurenga uprising. King Makombe who took over as King of Harare after the death of King Mbari is 1872 is well known for leading the resistance against British colonialists and gave them a very hard time in Mazoe area, the British found it very hard to capture him history says they captured him once and he managed to escape. King Makombe was a man of great intelligence and he used his strategies to fight against Colonialism. It is thanks to King Makombe that the Mbari clan are still in existence. When the British launched the genocide to completely wipe out the clan it was King Makombe who realised the British had brought in re enforcements to wipe them out and he realised they were being outnumbered so had to change strategy. He instructed the Harare Royals to run away and disperse in different directions and never use any names which which identify them as Harare royals. He further instructed them to settle anywhere safe and multiply and gather strength to return to fight for the Harare Kingdom. King Makombe accounts during the First Chimurenga were recorded with his name misspelt as Makombi. Makombe building the building for Zimbabwe`s central registry was named after King Makombe. Prince Nyamadzawo was a master tactician who mapped out attack strategies and ran the Mbari military operation to defend the Kingdom. So powerful was Prince Nyamadzawo that he too was never captured. In all Harare colonial history there is no single Prince who was captured.
Prince Chiridzambira played a special role as he had been ordained by King Mbari to play a spiritual role for the Kingdom, his role was almost similar to the Princess Moyochena and Princess Anyerere only that their duties were different and they operated in different areas. There are many other Harare royals who played important roles in the pre- and post-colonial period and these will be featured in later publications.
HRH Princess Eugene Majuru
Princess Eugene Majuru plays an important role in this 21st century. She is a modern Princess whose role is to link the current and ancient, she acts as the bridge between the old and ancient and her role is to educate the people about the ancient history and help them to link to what is happening now, to revive the lost and almost forgotten traditions and culture and ensure the way is clear for future generations. Princess Eugene was also tasked to ensure the remains of Zimbabwe`s First Chimurengwa war heroes remains in London museums are repatriated back to Zimbabwe, to tell the history of the clan and ensure the Harare Kingdom is restored and assist other Kingdoms to restore their lost cultures and traditions. A story teller who has several abilities Princess Eugene is extraordinary. More about Princess Eugene`s role will be revealed in her autobiography which is currently being authored.
Prince Rungano Magwani is another Harare royal who is playing an important role in the Kingdom, he is a source of inspiration to many and also plays the role of educating others on the History of the Mbari clan. He is involved in a lot of community activities and in 2024 donated clothing to Women` s prison in Bindura. Prince Magwani is kind hearted and is consulted by many on social and business issues, he is very good in farming and growing several types of crops. Prince Magwani will be featured in a later publication. Another notable Harare royal family member is Prince Thomas Allan Majuru, Prince Thomas played a very important role from as far back as 1988 fighting for resuscitation of the Mbari Kingdom. Around 1988 he wrote sevearl letters to Buckingham Palace, on behalf of the Mbari clan he requested the issue of the ills of colonialism which affected Harare to be resolved, these included compensation and funding to conduct the cleansing ceremonies of those killed during colonialism. During the period Zimbabweans were regaining their land grabbed by the British during Colonialism, Prince Thomas led the invasions in Mazoe and successfully got some of the land back. The Mbari Clan is currently in a period of restoration.
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