Weeks after the two wedded in South Africa, Shakib Lutaaya has narrated how he approached South African-based Ugandan socialite, Zari Hassan, saying the first time he spoke to her, he feared to express what was on his heart.
Ever since Zari (42) and Shakib had their traditional wedding in April, the question that has puzzled many is – how did this love story begin? Whose idea was it? How did a little-known guy gather the audacity to hit on a continental celebrity who also happens to have kids with Diamond Platnumz.
Well, Shakib has finally spilled the beans.
The 31-year-old says he first set his eyes on Zari ten years ago.
“I liked her about 10 years ago but I couldn’t approach her,” Shakib said in a TV interview on Thursday.
He and Zari are in Uganda to attend the Royal Banquet for the Kyabazinga of Busoga and Inebantu (Queen).
Back when Zari hosted her star-studded All White Party which paralyzed Kampala’s social scene, Shakib had a thing – infatuation – for her. But all he could afford to do was show up to the venue and admire her car in the parking lot.
“When I was in Uganda, she (Zari) would come here to do her Zari ‘All White’ parties. I would go there and look at her car. Her car was intimidating,” he said.
In 2018, he went to South Africa where Zari lived.
“We happened to be driving on the same highway in SA. How I knew it was her is because she was driving a car with number plates ‘ZARI 3’.”
Shakib tailed her up to Menlyn Park Shopping Centre, a large shopping mall in Menlyn, Pretoria.
“She parked at the mall and I also parked. I found her with one of her sons. I followed her into the mall. I approached her and told her ‘I am a Ugandan, and I’m here to say Hi’. She didn’t give me much attention,” recounts Shakib.
“My intention was to make my feelings known to her. But when I got to her, I couldn’t. I was consumed by fear.”
The two came to meet again in South Africa in 2020, according to Shakib.
“We got a chance to talk more. We caught up but then separated again. We later reunited in Uganda and we have been together since.”
In May, Zari revealed that they had previously dated then they ended it only to rekindle the flame in 2022.
“I dated Shakib way back and then we went separate ways. I don’t know how we found each other again. And then coming back together one year later and it’s like ‘You know what? I am gonna make you my wife’. That’s it. We didn’t talk for a while then all of a sudden, we come back together a year after getting back together and we get married. If it’s not God, I mean what do you call that?” Zari said.
Earlier this month, Zari and Shakib wedded in South Africa.
The private ceremony was graced by close friends, family members and celebrities across the continent, among them Zari’s best friend and millionaire Zodwa Mkandla, several cast members from the Young, Famous & African reality TV show.
During Thursday’s interview, Shakib admitted their relationship has been dotted with ups and downs.
The couple was also asked about the voice note (which leaked in June this year) in which Zari was heard referring to Shakib as a timid person who has no confidence. They both admit the aftermath of the leak was rough as it created tension between them.
In the voice note released following their trip to the UK, Zari was heard telling an unidentified person that Shakib acted clueless during the trip and that she was dismayed at his lack of confidence.
“We were together in the UK after which I returned to Uganda and she went to S.A. Everything had been alright between us. The next morning I heard a voice note in Swahili with bits of Luganda. I was angry when I heard it,” said Shakib on how he reacted upon hearing the details of the recording.
“In my mind, I was like… ‘Could she do this? Could she say such things about me?’ So, I sent it to her. And she told me ‘Baby, don’t look at the bad side. I was looking out for you. I know you’ve used airports, you are not dumb, but I didn’t want you to find difficulties. And if it offended you, I apologize’,” he added.
What followed was him advising her against trusting random people with such conversations. He told her it’s safer to use such sarcasm with him, not anyone else.
“What matters is she apologized.”
On her part, Zari says she was equally emotionally traumatized by the incident.
“Mwami Lutaaya felt bad. It displeased him, I don’t want to lie. It took a while for us to resolve it. He said he was disappointed with me. And wanted to know whether that’s how I address him behind his back. Of course, like any man, his ego was bruised. But I apologized to him and explained that I did it from a good place. I told him that voice note was not meant for the public,” Zari explained.
In justifying her actions, she said had Shakib missed her event in UK, it would have hurt her, and so she didn’t want to take chances.
“I knew he had traveled and he has used airport terminals before, but I said it in a joking manner. The public is into negativity. Social media is teaching us to accept negativity and we are refusing to see the good things.”
In any relationship where there is a sizable age difference (in this case 9 years), there is always going to be a power imbalance. Which is why critics have always questioned the level of Zari’s submissiveness towards Shakib. Especially when she earns more and by implication, she calls the shots.
Zari admits there are times she ignores his advice, legitimate as it may be. Her dressing for example.
She cited a recent scenario during the recently concluded National Film and TV Awards where Shakib told her she was dressed indecently. But she refused to change her outfit even when she knew it was revealing.
“If I am to be honest, there are many things he tells me not to do and I defy him. There are times he will tell me not to put on something and I will tell him ‘Baby, this is showbiz stuff. You won’t understand. I have to slay’.”
