Patience Mangwiro’s ex-husband disputes paternity claims after Muduva death draws in young girl

Just over a week after Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) Commissioner Martin Muduva was axed to death, the ex-husband of Patience Mangwiro says he is the biological father of her young daughter and has voiced his displeasure at the child being drawn into the tragedy.

Muduva was allegedly killed by his first wife, Lyliosa Chirara, who is then alleged to have taken her own life.

Reports last week suggested that Muduva and Mangwiro had a child together. Following his death, Mangwiro shared a picture of Muduva holding a young girl, captioned with the question “tichasara nani?” (“who will we be left with?”).

This has angered Daniel Zavirima, who was previously married to Mangwiro, for two reasons: he is unhappy that the child has been drawn into discussions surrounding the tragedy, and he believes the post creates the impression that the child is Muduva’s daughter.

Since he is still alive, Zavirima says he does not understand why Muduva’s death should cast doubt over his own daughter’s future, as he feels the photo and caption suggest.

Speaking to H-Metro, Zavirima said he was disturbed after coming across the photo on social media, and said Mangwiro’s decision to involve their daughter in the tragedy through her social media posts was deeply inappropriate.

“I am very sure that I am the father of Patience Mangwiro’s daughter, the one she posted on social media in the arms of Commissioner Muduva,” he said. “The post suggests that my daughter is Muduva’s child. If the daughter is not mine, then DNA tests will prove that.”

Zavirima said he married Mangwiro in 2018, with the couple holding a white wedding the following year in Masvingo.

The marriage broke down at the end of 2022, which he attributed to complicated issues, including alleged infidelity.

“We have since cancelled the marriage certificate, and I am now happily married to another woman,” he said.

Zavirima maintained that Muduva was not responsible for the collapse of his marriage, adding that the breakdown coincided with a period in which he had also lost his job.

Contacted for comment, Mangwiro declined to respond to questions from H-Metro, citing workplace protocol.

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