The obstacles Zari and Shakib's marriage may never overcome

GEOFFREY MBUTHIA ENTERTAINMENT SUB-EDITOR

13 August 2024

• The couple has been married since April 2023, but have had some very public disputes with even a brief separation in late 2023.

Recently, Ugandan couple Zari Hassan and Shakib Cham have been all over the internet, but not for the best of reasons.

The drama started when Diamond Platnumz, Zari’s former partner, showed up unexpectedly at their daughter Princess Tiffah’s birthday party in South Africa.

Instead of seeing this as a nice gesture from Diamond, Shakib reacted like a kid who’s just found out Santa isn’t real.

This reaction has sparked a bit of a firestorm between them, with Zari laying down the law: Shakib needs to deal with his jealousy or their relationship might be over.

Shakib, trying to smooth things over, responded with, “My boss lady, you’re so cute when you’re being stubborn. Keep being you, and I’ll keep giving you those commands.” Zari’s reply was a bunch of laughing and heart emojis, which seemed to signal that their tiff had ended.

But these issues didn’t just pop up out of nowhere. Here’s a look at why their relationship will always be bedeviled with these issues.

Age Difference: Zari and Shakib have over a decade between them, with Zari being the more seasoned partner. This age gap can lead to different ways of handling situations, like Shakib’s reaction to Diamond’s visit.

Marrying Into an Established Family: Shakib knew he was stepping into a complex family situation when he married Zari, who has five kids from 2 previous relationships.

Marrying a woman or man who already has children from a previous partner isn't easy and needs a person mature enough to handle such complexity.

Long-Distance Relationship: With Zari in South Africa and Shakib in Uganda, their long-distance marriage faces extra challenges.

Let's not forget that long-distance relationships are tough, now add the pressure of marital vows.

Financial Disparity: Research shows that marriages where the wife earns more than the husband often have higher divorce rates with theories abounding as to why that is.

In this case, Zari’s greater financial success might be putting additional pressure on their relationship.

High-Profile Ex-Partner: Diamond Platnumz’s fame and wealth casts a long pall on this marriage. Shakib might feel overshadowed, and the public scrutiny doesn’t help, adding to his feelings of insecurity.

Lack of Shared Children: Kids can be the glue that holds a marriage together. Without this shared bond, Zari and Shakib’s relationship lacks a crucial element that might otherwise sustain them through difficult times.

In conclusion, while Zari and Shakib’s relationship appears to be in a state of flux, the challenges they face are emblematic of broader issues inherent in their union.

But at the end of the day, this is just my opinion and you know what they say about those in sailor's parlance...