By HRH Princess Eugene Majuru- Princess of Harare.
Introduction
Zimbabwe`s capital city of Harare, is the largest city of Zimbabwe, boasts a rich and complex history. The origins of the history are as a pre-colonial settlement to its transformation into a modern African metropolis, the city’s story reflects the broader narrative of Zimbabwe itself. Moat of the history of Zimbabwe is centred on Harare as it is the city that drives everything that drives the country. Most people who live in rural areas have flocked to Harare to earn a living and find means of survival as most cities and towns are quiet with nothing going on. This migration to Harare has caused over population and poor management by the Harare city council has damaged the city. It is therefore, important to note that the history of Harare commences with pre-colonial period, colonial and post-independence period, what is currently happening in Harare is regarded as current history.
Early History and Colonial Foundation
Pre-Colonial Era: The area that is now Harare was inhabited by indigenous peoples for centuries. The royal family of Harare are known as the Mbari clan who were led by former ruler King Mbari of the Shumba Gurundoro clan. In some accounts of history documented there is vague description of Shona people, in particular, had a significant presence without mentioning or acknowledging the Mbari clan as the inhabitants. The establishment of Salisbury in 1897 after the takeover of the city by British Colonialists created the way for a modern city. The arrival of the Pioneer Column, a military force of the British South Africa Company led by Cecil Rhodes in Zimbabwe in September 1890 saw the arrival of the British in Harare. The documentary evidence states that they had wanted to settle in Mount Hampden but decided to settle in Harare because Mount Hampden was a swampy area and also because on the way to Mount Hampden they stumbled on the Chihoka Hill which was a flat plateau on very high ground, they decided to settle at Chihoka Hill the area now called Kopje in Harare. In around June 1890 the British arrived in other cities such as Bulawayo and Great Zimbabwe in Masvingo, In Matabeleland they fought against the Ndebele. The settlers were looking for various areas that Cecil John Rhodes had visited and surveyed.
It was only in 1896 that the British arrived in Harare and by 1897 they had managed to take over the city of Harare and the whole Harare Kingdom from the Mbari clan, they thus declared taking over Zimbabwe. Other cities were of no significance and no battles were fought. Battles were however fought in other cities but others remained untouched. In understanding the history of Zimbabwe, it is important to acknowledge and understand that the Mbari clan were the most hit and suffered the worst casualties. On top of that they were completely displaced from their land unlike other clans who are still in their areas. It is also important to note that other clans were moved to areas where the land was infertile while the British took fertile land. Harare Kingdom is the area where there was heavy concentrated battles to take over the land and the Mbari genocide of 1896 to 1897 is the World’s biggest Genocide.
After the Mbari fled due to increased reinforcements the British established a settlement and named it Fort Salisbury, after Lord Salisbury, who was British Prime Minister at the time. Under the British Salisbury grew as a centre for the surrounding farming and mining activities. Salisbury became a municipality in 1897. The arrival of the railway from Beira, Mozambique, further boosted development.
The Colonial Period saw Salisbury becoming the capital of the self-governing British colony of Southern Rhodesia in 1923. Salisbury was granted city status in 1935, reflecting its increasing importance and growth. The federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland of 1953-1963, Salisbury served as the capital of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, a period that saw further expansion and modernization. In the period 1965-1979 was the period of Rhodesia’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI), Salisbury remained the capital, was political tension and international isolation.
Independence and Transformation
Independence of Zimbabwe was gained in 1980 and there were huge celebrations in Harare and across Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980 after a long liberation struggle. Salisbury remained the capital of the newly independent nation. In order for Independence of Zimbabwe to take place there were two significant wars the 1st and 2nd Chimurenga. Robert Gabriel Mugabe became Prime Minister of Zimbabwe in 1980 and ruled for 37 years until he was ousted by Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa via a coup d`etat in 2017. Till today 2025 Mnangagwa is President of Zimbabwe.
Renaming of Zimbabwe’s capital city from Salisbury to Harare occurred in1982, in 1982, on the second anniversary of Zimbabwe’s independence, the city was officially renamed Harare. The name is derived from King Mbari also known as Paramount Chief Mbari. Kings Mbari`s Chieftaincy was and is called Neharawa. There is confusion of the use of the titles King Mbari, Paramount Chief Mbari and Chief Mbari. The British are responsible for downgrading or stripping African Kings of the titles, they stripped their titles to Chiefs and till today the Kings in Africa use the titles Chief. This is something that Africans need to correct in the decolonisation process and addressing the ills of Colonialism. King Mbari had a young brother Makombe who became King when he passed on the reigns to him so he could concentrate on the spiritual side of things as he was inundated with work with visitors streaming into Harare and Zimbabwe from the region.
The post-Independence development of Harare continued to grow as Zimbabwe’s political, economic, and cultural centre. The city has faced challenges and periods of economic difficulty, but it remains a vibrant and important African city.
Harare Today
Today Harare is a modern metropolis city with a mix of colonial-era architecture and contemporary buildings. It is the country’s main commercial, industrial, and administrative centre. The city of Harare is home to many cultural institutions such as the National Gallery of Zimbabwe and the University of Zimbabwe, several cultural festivals are also hosted in the city. The rapid growth and urbanization of Harare has
caused so many economic disparities and the lack of infrastructure development is a major concern, over population is fast becoming a problem as Zimbabweans continue to flock to Harare. There are now so many beggars and street kids and vagrants and vendors line up the streets. The lack of employment and lack of industries is crippling the city and country at large as the country is now heavily dependent on importing most goods yet the unemployed could be working in production.
Besides working in industries Zimbabweans could be working on the farms producing many crops and regain the status of being the breadbasket of Africa and could easily earn by exporting food to the region and international destinations. Water and electricity are other problems the city is currently facing and many people have resorted to installing boreholes for domestic water and installation of solar systems for electricity. The badly maintained or not maintained roads cause major problems and numerous accidents which can be involved have become the order of the day in this current 21st century. Colonialism has damaged the society so much that today we see many people in Harare bleaching their skin with efforts to look lighter as its considered beauty, many
who hardly know their heritage are not proud of who they are or where they originate from and the education authorities and society leaders have the bug task to educate the masses that their black skin is the best and has many health benefits. Much more work is needed in terms of cultural and traditional education and preservation of African culture as some are trying to copy other countries as they refuse to be who they are.
Key Historical Themes
Colonialism and Resistance has seen Harare’s history being deeply intertwined with the experience of British colonialism and the subsequent struggle for Zimbabwean independence. Zimbabweans still suffer due to the constitution designed by the British which is still in use with other parts having being amended. The constitution of Zimbabwe is a huge document and much more needs to be amended including the
Traditional Leaders act and many other acts. Another bad act is the act that states that Harare and Bulawayo are not to have Chieftainships, Since the British took over Harare in 1897 there has never been and traditional administration in the capital as well as Bulawayo and this has long lasting damaging effects as these areas greatly lack morality, people just do what they want and most people who commit crimes in other
towns and cities go to Harare to hide as they take advantage of the absence of a King (Chief) . The Identity and Change within Harare is the renaming of the city from Salisbury to Harare as this symbolizes the shift in power and the assertion of a new national identity although there is much more work needed to be done to achieve good results. The social and economic changes that have taken place in Harare are mostly with negative effects as some of the modernisation is not being maintained to required standards. Very little of the urbanisation and development is benefitting the masses and to positively move forward a lot needs to be done, strategizing and getting the priorities right is key for development. Alleviation of poverty is another urgent issue.
Harare’s history is a rich tapestry of events and influences which have got to start from pre-colonial to colonial leading to its role as the capital of an independent Zimbabwe, the city has played a central role in the nation’s story. Understanding its past is crucial to appreciating its present and shaping its future. The pre-colonial history is very important in shaping Zimbabwe. A lack of knowledge does not help to solve the problems especially the spiritual and sacredness of the area. Without knowing who the owners of the land are spiritual problems cannot be resolved and many Zimbabweans will struggle and suffer without finding solutions. Recent efforts to retell the story and the history of the Mbari clan is being appreciated by many Zimbabweans and non-Zimbabweans who now have a better understanding of many events and connect them with what happened in pre-colonial period. Understanding about Harare and Zimbabwe is heavily dependent on knowing about the pre colonial history which is then applied to the present, there can never be a separation. For anyone trying to understand the history of the Mbari clan in Harare or general history of Harare on its own or with the extension of the Harare Kingdom requires delving into pre-colonial and colonial Zimbabwean history.
The Mbari Clan of Harare: A Legacy of Resistance
The history of Harare is deeply rooted in the stories of the indigenous people who inhabited the region long before colonial settlement. The Mbari clan holds a significant place, marked by both their historical presence and their resistance to colonial forces, the spirituality and roles they played and still play in present day. The absence of the
Mbari Kingdom also known as Harare Kingdom does not rule out the role they play, they currently play an active role in matters concerning sacredness, spirituality and problem solving so it is wrong to say the history of the Mbari clan is only tied with pre-colonial history. The people who lack knowledge are the ones who say this.
Pre-Colonial, colonial and current presence of the Mbari clan in Harare forms a part of this historical landscape, with their influence extending across the region. Most historical accounts, particularly those being brought to the forefront by descendants of the Mbari, speak of a powerful African Kingdom. Forefathers of the Harare royals passed
on information to descendants and now in the 2st century these accounts are being revisited and documented. Oral traditions are vitally important to the Mbari Clans history, as many of these stories were not recorded by colonizers. The documented information was mostly mentioning in brief or passing but today the clan are able to fully tell the stories, no one tells their own stories better than themselves. Still on documentation of Harare history and most African history colonialists would concentrate on the Colonial Encounters and Resistance: with so much distortions some of which was caused by refusal to accept the power of the African Kingdoms and their closely knot communities and intelligence displayed by Africans.
The Mbari clan, like other indigenous groups, faced the encroachment of colonial settlers and the disruption of their traditional way of life. Figures like Mukwati, King Makombe, associated with the Mbari descendants, played a role in resisting colonial rule. The accounts of the British forces attempting to completely wipe out the Mbari Clan are very important in understanding the history of Harare and why most of the Kingdom does not have its Chieftainship especially Harare, Mazoe, Mount Hampden and Nyabira. The history of the Mbari clan is linked to the broader Zimbabwean resistance against colonialism.
Contemporary Perspectives:
Today, there’s a growing effort to reclaim and preserve the history of the Mbari clan. Descendants are working to document their heritage and bring to light the stories that were often suppressed during the colonial era. There are also calls for recognition and reparations for the injustices suffered by the Mbari clan during the colonial period.
As Princess of Harare I ensure the necessary communication of the Mbari clan with England’s royal family is done and is very important to note we as the Mbari clan fighting for justice. Any normal being would do so and exercise their human rights without fear or favour. The atrocities of colonialism continue to haunt us and no matter how much we may want to ignore them we are forced to revisit the scenes and have to sort out outstanding issues which include the dignified burial of our Ancestors remains, the return of looted artifacts, the cleansing and burial of all human remains which still lie in the open in various places and in caves across the Harare Kingdom. Other clans in Zimbabwe may have similar cases but that of the Mbari clan is unique in its own way as the genocide which took place did not take place in other areas during Colonialism, it is Harare that was the target to take over and make the capital city of Rhodesia. The first Chimurenga was not fought collectively like the 2nd Chimurenga, the 1st Chimurenga was more of the British vs each clan and experiences and encounters differ according to who and how the battles were fought and the power and abilities of each clan.
My work as the royal author of the Mbari clan history includes writing news articles, books in Journals and carrying out extensive research about the Mbari clan, is helping to bring this history to a wider audience. A few of our Ancestors who were present during the 2nd Chimurenga are a still alive and are also great sources of information, we were fortunate enough to see some of our forefathers from the 1st Chimurenga and they passed on the history. These works which highlight the importance of oral history and the need to rectify historical omissions and encourage dialogue with the former colonisers to resolve outstanding issues. The location of Mbare its self, has a very deep historical connection to the Mbari clan.
Key Themes:
Oral Tradition highlights the importance of oral history in preserving the memory of the Mbari clan and the clan’s role in resisting colonial forces. The ongoing effort to reclaim and preserve the Mbari heritage has great significance in resolving the problems Zimbabwe is currently facing. As far as historical justice is concerned the calls for recognition and reparations are founded. The story of the Mbari clan is an essential part of Harare’s history, offering valuable insights into the pre-colonial and colonial and post independent experiences of Zimbabwe. We are fast approaching 18 April 2025 Zimbabwe`s Independence day, we are forced to revisit the scenes once again and reflect on a lot of things and plan for the future.
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