Prominent city lawyer in bitter custody wrangle

PROMINENT city lawyer and Zimbabwe Football Association executive board member Tavengwa Hara is embroiled in a sensational but yet bitter child custody wrangle, with his estranged wife, who claims that he is not suitable to raise their two children, as he allegedly has a tendency of bedding their house maids and other women in their home.

According to documents submitted at the Juvenile Court of Zimbabwe in Bulawayo, Case Number JC 157/14, which Sunday Leisure is in possession of, dated 15 July 2014, Hara's estranged wife - Brenda Hawadi - is battling for the custody of their children, who are in the football administrator's care.

In the document, submitted at the Juvenile Court of Zimbabwe in response to Hara's submissions Hawadi claims that she went through a great ordeal during the time of their marriage, as she was subjected to physical and verbal abuse, which also affected the two children at the centre of the storm.

"Respondent (Hara) cannot retain custody of the two minors because respondent is irresponsible, abusive to the workers, that is the maids and the children. I the applicant (Hawadi) is currently staying with my parents, in a four bedroomed house, which still can accommodate the two children, giving a total of (5) people staying at the house," reads part of her argument.

The two children's ages and sex were, however, not given in the documents, where Hara was also accused of not being suitable to  provide due care for their children as he was always travelling, in pursuit of his sports career.

"The sex of the children is neither here nor there, I as the biological mother can provide better and motherly love to the minors, inspect their clothes and uniforms to school, cook for the children, and help them with their school homework. On the other hand the respondent is not in a position to provide the above as he always resorts to maids to do all the work for the children. With the nature of his business, as an attorney, as well as Zifa board member, he always travels in pursuit of his sporting career," argued Hawadi in the documents.

She also accused Hara of misleading the courts into believing that his house was a walking distance from the school, which the children attended.

"The respondent is misleading the courts, as he states that it is a walking distance from his house to school. He uses one of his cars, which is driven by a relative to and from school every day. Since I left the matrimonial home the current maid is the 5th, to be exact she started working on the 6th of July 2014. Leaving the matrimonial home in the hands of him not the maid was effected by his physical abuse and in some instances when I was away he would bed the maids and also bring different women, sleeping with them in the presence of the children. Could this be the act of a responsible father?" Hawadi queried.

She then pleaded with the court to ask the respondent to show proof that she would abuse maintenance money if granted.

"It is neither here nor there, he must maintain his kids living with or without him. It is not true that I am unemployable, as stated; he has often threatened my former employers resulting in me being dismissed. Wherefore I humbly pray that the respondent's opposing affidavit be dismissed with the contempt that it deserves and the custody of the two minors be awarded to me," said Hawadi.

Hara could not be drawn into responding on the matter, as he was reported to be in a meeting by the time of going to Press.

Efforts to contact him on his mobile phone were also fruitless, as he would answer his phone but not speak.

He also didn't respond to a Whatsapp message that was sent to him informing him about the matter.

His lawyer, Godwin Sengweni, said he could not comment on the issue, as he would be in violation of the client and company confidentiality.

"I can't comment on that matter without the clearance of my client," he said.