How WLSA Helped a Mother Reclaim Custody of Her Children in Mutasa

The Challenge Patricia Gwizo (32 years), from Mutasa, faced a challenging situation when her partner, Karakadzai Majeje, refused to pay child maintenance for their two children, aged 7 and 9. He claimed that Patricia was irresponsible, which led him to forcibly take the children away from her without consent. This action forced Patricia to seek court intervention to regain custody, as Karakadzai had relocated the children to an unknown place. How WLSA Helped WLSA provided crucial support through paralegal Priviledge Bonjisi, who offered legal advice and guidance, enabling Patricia to self-represent in court. Priviledge took Patricia through the guardianship and minor’s ACT, empowering her with talking points for the court hearing. With this assistance, Patricia was able to file for court approval to regain custody of her children. Despite the court granting her permission, the children remained missing for an extended period. WLSA continued to support Patricia in filing a new case, which ultimately led to Karakadzai’s arrest. The Outcome  As a result of WLSA’s advocacy and the effective support from the paralegal, the children were successfully located and reunited with their mother. This case highlights the vital role of legal assistance in protecting the rights of women and children and demonstrates WLSA’s commitment to empowering parents to secure the welfare of their children.