Harare, Zimbabwe ( News of The South) – The recent debate over Chief Seke’s activities in Mbare has reignited a deeper conversation about Zimbabwe’s cultural identity, traditional authority, and the role of spirituality in the modern capital city.
Zimbabwe is not just a political state; it is a spiritual country, deeply rooted in customs and traditions that have guided its people for centuries. Across villages and rural areas, when mysterious or spiritual events occur – whether a person disappears in water, or vanishes on a sacred mountain like Mt. Nyangani – communities instinctively turn to their chiefs and masvikiro (spirit mediums), not to pastors or bishops. Chiefs and custodians of the land know the rituals required to restore balance.
Colonial Disruption of Tradition in Harare
Unlike rural areas, Harare presents a unique problem. The city was transformed into a commercial and administrative capital by the British during colonisation. In doing so, they deliberately dismantled traditional authority, erasing the formal recognition of the Paramount Chief who once ruled over the area — Chief Mbari.
But while colonialism removed chiefs from Harare’s visible governance, it did not erase their authority. According to descendants of the Mbari clan, the land remains under the spiritual and ancestral guardianship of Chief Mbari’s lineage.
“Harare does not belong to the British who colonised and commercialised it , and Zimbabweans cannot treat Harare like London,” declared the Princess of Harare, a descendant of Paramount Chief Mbari. “The Mbari ancestors still control what happens on their land. Their descendants are alive, and when problems arise, people must seek guidance from the Mbari clan, not external figures.”
The Limits of Religion in Land Matters
In modern Harare, many residents turn to pastors and bishops to address spiritual disturbances, a reflection of the city’s commercial and colonial history. Yet, traditional leaders warn that this is ineffective when it comes to matters of land.
“While we all pray and follow religion, it does not override tradition. Land belongs to traditional leaders, not religious leaders. Issues of the land are resolved first through chiefs and spirit mediums — those chosen by the ancestors — and only then can religion come in,” the Princess explained.
She stressed that Zimbabwe’s forefathers practiced both tradition and religion, but tradition was always supreme. Chiefs and masvikiro are the ultimate custodians of land, knowing which rituals and laws apply to a given place.
The Mbari Clan’s Continuing Authority
For the Mbari clan, the matter is clear: Harare remains their domain, spiritually and historically. No chief from outside the boundaries has the right to perform rituals or assume authority in the city.
The Princess issued a stark reminder:
“Madziteteguru ekwaMbari (the ancestors of Mbari) still control what happens here. Outsiders must not trespass. When spiritual problems occur in Harare, it is the Mbari clan who can consult the ancestors and provide the guidance needed to resolve them.”
A Call for Respect of Tradition
The controversy surrounding Chief Seke’s role in Mbare and and Hanyani bridge reflects a broader challenge facing Zimbabwe: how to balance modern religion, urbanisation, and commerce with ancient traditions that remain the foundation of national identity.
As accidents continue near Manyame Bridge and questions about land rituals remain unresolved, the descendants of Chief Mbari insist that ignoring traditional authority is not only disrespectful but dangerous.
Comments
About Author
