[2] The municipality is named for the nineteenth century military leader Manuel Ezequiel Bruzual.

Clarines was officially founded on April 7, 1594, by Francisco de Vides, a Spanish adventurer who came from the Huelva Province.

[citation needed] The local population practices subsistence farming growing plantains, yuca, beans, china, cotton, cassava, and corn.

[4] The mayor of the Manuel Ezequiel Bruzual Municipality is Leobardo Canache, re-elected November 23, 2008 with 51% of the vote.

[5] The municipality is divided into three parishes; Capital Clarines, Guanape, and Sabana de Uchire.