Woman Loses Custody Bid Amid Drug Allegations

The Harare Civil Court awarded custody to the child’s father after considering allegations made against the mother.

By Staff Reporter

HARARE- A Harare woman has lost her bid to regain custody of her minor child after the Civil Court ruled in favour of her former husband, who alleged that she was involved in the sale of marijuana.

Blessing Mawaro had approached the Harare Civil Court seeking an order compelling her former husband, Gerald Dangarembizi, to return their child. The matter was heard before Magistrate Janemary Makonye, who ultimately granted custody to Dangarembizi after considering evidence presented by both parties. Mawaro told the court that she contacted Dangarembizi on January 29, 2026, after their child became ill, with the intention of arranging medical treatment together.

She said Dangarembizi insisted on taking the child, promising to return him after two weeks, but allegedly failed to honour the agreement. “I called him so that we could help each other get the child treated, but he took the child and never brought him back as agreed,” Mawaro told the court. The failure to return the child subsequently prompted Mawaro to seek the court’s intervention.

Dangarembizi opposed the application, arguing that Mawaro was not a suitable person to have custody because of her alleged involvement in the illicit drug trade. He told the court that he did not want the child raised in what he described as a toxic environment. “She sells marijuana, and I do not want my child to grow up in such a toxic environment,” Dangarembizi said.

To support his allegations, Dangarembizi submitted photographs and text-message exchanges which he said showed Mawaro’s alleged involvement in the trade. The court considered the submissions and evidence before ruling in Dangarembizi’s favour and awarding him custody of the minor child.

The allegations of drug dealing formed part of the custody proceedings and should not be treated as a criminal conviction unless separately established in criminal proceedings. The ruling was made by Magistrate Makonye, who was among 17 new magistrates sworn into office in March 2026.

Harare woman loses custody