Shakib Cham opens up on keeping his kids apart from Zari’s
Ugandan entrepreneur and internet sensation Shakib Cham Lutaaya has opened up on how he manages life in a blended family after marrying socialite and businesswoman Zari Hassan.
Speaking on a local podcast on Friday, August 29, 2025, Shakib, who has two children from different mothers, revealed that he prefers not to mix them with Zari’s five children.
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He explained that although they met once, he deliberately avoids bringing them together to prevent involving their mothers in situations that could create unnecessary tension.
Shakib added that whenever he travels to South Africa, he sets aside quality time to be with his children, though he chooses to keep those moments private and away from the public eye.
“They have met once. But since I don’t want to bring their mothers and kids into this thing, I don’t like mixing them up. Whenever I’m in South Africa, I spend time with them, but I don’t do videos,” he explained.
Marriage to Zari
This comes months after he spoke about the challenges he has faced since tying the knot with Zari. In January 2025, Shakib disclosed through his official Instagram account that criticism has been a big part of his married life.
“Personally, I’ve faced a lot of criticism before the show, especially after becoming Zari’s husband,” he revealed.
Most of the criticism, he noted, was centred on the age gap between him and Zari, who is a few years older than him. Despite this, Shakib has embraced his role as Zari’s partner and is now stepping further into the limelight through reality television.
Shakib is currently featured in season three of the Netflix reality series Young, Famous and African. He said the show has allowed him to present his true self beyond the perception of just being Zari’s husband.
“As a cast member, my personality and what I do are documented, and people will have to know me well besides being Zari’s husband,” he said.
He also encouraged his fans to share their thoughts on his performance in the series, which premiered earlier this year.
“Now that I’ve had a chance to show my true self on the show, I’d love to hear your honest thoughts – what do you think of my performance so far? It’s been five days since Season 3 of Young, Famous and African premiered. How do you think it’s going so far?” he asked.
Shakib credited his wife for supporting him and helping him secure a spot in the high-profile Netflix series.
“Hey, wife, just wanted to say thanks for making me a Netflix star. Here’s to many more moments of joy, love, and Netflix fame,” he wrote.
“Love of my life, I just want to take a moment to express my gratitude for believing in me and pushing me to pursue my dreams. Being featured in Young, Famous and African is a dream come true, and I couldn’t have done it without your love and support. Thank you for being my rock,” he added.
