By Princess of Harare Princess Eugene Majuru
As Princess of the Harare Mbari Clan of the Shumba Gurunduro Totem, the original custodians of Harare and the surrounding areas Mazoe, Concession and Mount Hampden note with heavy hearts and great concern how the history of the Mbari Clan is being ‘raped’ in broad day light and how our late great ancestor Makombe is being ‘peed onto’ and trashed even in his moist grave.
After independence Drill Hall was renamed Makombe Building after Harare’s King as a token of appreciation for Makombe’s gallant participation in the First Chimurenga war. To our surprise that very celebrated honour bestowed on him has been harshly and humiliatingly taken from him by renaming the same building Muchecheterwa Chiwashira. What a joke? Does that mean Muchecheterwa Chiwashira is more superior than Makombe? Makombe was a young brother to King Mbari and he was the King of Harare after King Mbari.
Makombe and Muchecheterwa Chiwashira were all freedom fighters in equal measure. Does that mean Chiwashira is more superior than Makombe? Why take what once given to Makombe to appease Chiwashira? That’s double standards. There is nothing wrong in honouring Chiwashira but it is wrong to take violently what you once gave to Makombe deservedly. Has Makombe offended anyone from his grave? Why give him a kick in his already rotten bones? Justice for Makombe the freedom fighter, our veered former King of Harare and the rightful custodian of the Mbari land. It’s mind boggling to rename Makombe building Muchecheterwa Chiwashira. Is it a matter of another black freedom fighter oppressing and suppressing the importance of another freedom fighter?. Build another building and rename it Chiwashira. Makombe’s spirit accepted the honour and it dwells in that building why make it homeless now?
As the Mbari clan we appeal to the government with heads bowed down to give justice to our late great hero of the nation King Makombe. Our cry atop the Chihoka Hill is for his dignity to be restored by returning back what you once gave to him – Makombe Building.
By erqsing the history and narratuve of Makombe Zimbabwe is trying to create another narrative. Nakombe is a black freedom fighter is Makombe building the last building in Zimbabwe how come Zimbabwe couldn’t build a completely new building and name it Chiwashira? We have traditional Chiefs in Zimbabwe anout 300 of them they see and hear and watch and fail to advise the government. Should Makombe’s spirit rise fight the very same people who renamed the building will approach the Mbari clan and ask them to resolve the problems for them. For how long can we watch such happen in our country Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s new capital city is still named Mount Hampden 44 years after Independence. Who is Mount Hampden? Mount Hampden killed many Zimbabweans but his name is carried on and will remain as Zimbabwe’s capital. Zimbabwe could have named the new parliament building Chiwashira or any other new building Chiwashira. The spirit of Makombe my great Ancestor has been humiliated and I soeak as Makombe’s descendant.
We still have Charles Prince airport in Mount Hampden how come Charles Prince airport renamed Chiwashira Airport? Zimbabwe needs to go back on the drawing board and make necessary changes as soon possible because the problems are coming spiritually. In Zimbabwen culturual terms there is spiritual relevance it’s assuned giving a name to someone or something has spiritual significance. It means Makombe’s spirit has reined in Makombe building for a long tine but is now now being made to clash with Chiwashira causing spiritual clash. As Princess of Harare I have said what needs to be said and relevant offices need to reflect and act on this. In zimbabwean language it’s described as “kutsipika Makombe to silence him physically and spiritually” It’s interesting to hear what Zimbabwe’s Council of Chiefs and spirit mediums have to have to say about this. Next time we will not be surprised to see the same people rename Kaguvi building to Samora Machel or Nelson Mandela.
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