By Correspondent
Mufakose suburb is named after the Hwata dynasty.
In street lingo it is referred to as “Mufombi”.
Mufakose is the totem of the Hwata, Shona people of central Zimbabwe who settled in the Mazoe valley in the early 19th century.
Hwata Lineage
However, three brothers, alleged to be murderers, Shayachimwe Mukombami, Nyakudya Chiweshe and Gutsa left their ancestral lands under Nyashanu in Buhera after committing chipini.
After settling down in the Harare-Mazoe area, Hwata Shayachimwe Mukombami abandoned his father’s chidawo (praise name) of Museyanwa.
This was for fear that he would be found out and killed.
Instead, he adopted the new praise name of Mufakose.
According to Forebears, a site that studies names, Mufakose is number 668,257th as the most common surname in the world.
Approximately 448 people bear this surname.
Mufakose is bordered by Warren Park, Kuwadzana, Crowborough North, Old Marimba Park Suburb and Budiriro.
It is one of Harare’s oldest suburbs.
Some prominent people come from Mufakose include Moses Chunga, Grace Mugabe, Edgar Tekere, Cephas Msipa and Tineyi Mawocha, a prominent banker.
Independent Zimbabwe
In 2021 a Mufakose resident John Tinotenda Majiga pushed a petition that sought to have the name of the suburb changed.
He cited the dark history of the name as the reason.
“The name has a historical significance, as it traces back the origins of the people.
“None the less, there is a fault in it as the three brothers were actually murderers and spent most of their time fleeing.
“The direct descendants of this dynasty are no longer in anyway a part of this community.
In a seeming stretch of the imagination they said the prevalent crime was linked to the suburb’s name.
“The community has had cases of violence, crime, teen pregnancies, murders, and so on.
“One can attach (these) to the name and its faulty origin,” he said.
However, the initiative failed as the name still remains.
Mufakose has 3 Wards which are Wards 34, 35 and 36.