The Lusaka Magistrate Court has ordered that the Facebook profile “Bukata” be removed unless both the child’s parents musician Elton Mulenga (Yo Maps) and influencer Prudence Nakamba (Mwizukanji) consent to have it active. The ruling, handed down by Resident Magistrate Kawama Mwamfuli, came following a dispute regarding custody, where Yo Maps sought to change a 2022 order on the basis that he should have primary custody of their child, Bukata. He argued that he has only seen the child one time in three years and was concerned about how the child was being raised as he provided the court with a TikTok video where the child was shown to use strong language.
Mwizukanji opposed the application citing that she never denied access and that her daughter lived in a loving and stable environment. She also argued that there was no evidence of negligence or unfitness. In her ruling, Magistrate Mwamfuli dismissed the request for primary custody, noting the evidence did not establish that the mother’s supervision was inadequate.
The court ruled that Bukata’s image be allowed to be shared on social media only with both parents’ approval. If either parent uses Bukata’s image in a commercial context any proceeds will be set aside in a trust account to be accessed for her benefit. The court ordered both parents to cooperate for the benefit of the child and that shared parenting will continue until she is eighteen. The court held that the parties may ask for a review of parenting time if the circumstances warrant a significant change.
