STARTING this Independence Day holiday, Bukata will have to start spending all her school and public holidays with her father Yo Maps whose real name is Elton Mulenga, the Lusaka Magistrate Court has ruled.
The decision, delivered by Resident Magistrate Kawama Mwamfuli, grants Yo Maps regular access to his daughter, including spending time with her every two weeks and on her birthday.
The ruling follows Yo Map’s application to vary a 2022 consent order, in which he claimed he had been denied access to the child.
The court granted Yo Maps and baby mama Mwizukanji joint custody which requires them to make shared decisions regarding Bukata’s education, health, religion and general welfare.
Magistrate Mwamfuli stated that the arrangement was intended to strengthen the bond between the child and her father while safeguarding her welfare.
“That primary and physical custody is granted to the Complainant with liberal and reasonable access to the Respondent. This is to enable the child to develop a stronger relationship with her father. Liberal and reasonable access to the child shall mean that the child is to spend all school holidays, public holidays and the Respondents child’s birthday with the Respondent,” ruled the magistrate.
“The Respondent to also have fortnightly access to the child on weekends and all public holidays, the child must be picked from school after knocking off or at 16:30hrs at the Complainants home. The child will then be taken back to the Complainants home by 15:30hrs on the day before the next school day. The first visit shall be on the 24th of October 2025.”
Magistrate Mwamfuli also ordered that Bukata be allowed to spend family vacations with her father as long as such events do not interfere with her school calendar.
“The Respondent shall have regular or electronic access with the child at such reasonable times as the parties may determine,” read the document.
“The Complainant shall facilitate and positively encourage the child having communication with the father. The Complainant shall allow the child space within her residence to ensure communication between the two can occur without interruption.”
“The parties must co-operate in the best interest of the child. Each party to bear its own costs. So I order accordingly.”
The magistrate dismissed Yo Maps’ request for full custody, noting that there was no evidence indicating that the mother’s home was unsafe or that she was unfit to care for the child.
The joint custody and access arrangement will remain in effect until the child turns 18, unless there are significant changes affecting her welfare.