By Mubanga Mubanga
Musician Elton Mulenga popularly known as Yo Maps has told the court that Joseph Mwenda and Kidist Kifle are the only ones who communicate over the affairs of his daughter, Bukata, as the baby mama Prudence Nankamba has denied him access to her.
Elton has since asked the court to grant him full custody of his daughter, while giving reasonable access to Nankamba popularly known as Mwizu.
In an affidavit filed on July 29, 2025, sworn in by Mulenga and his wife Kidsit Kifle, Mulenga submitted that from conversations, Mwenda is believed to be the husband to Nakamba.
“That I hasten to mention that there has not been direct communication between the complainant and myself except through Mrs. Kidist Kifle Mulenga “my wife” and other third parties authorised to speak on behalf of the compliant such as Joseph Mwenda, who from conversations I believe to be her husband on the side of the complainant,” Mulenga submitted.
He stated that he had been informed by his wife that on several occasions, she had requested on his behalf that they get the child for an event, holiday or weekend to spend time with her but Nankamba had refused without giving any good reasons for her refusal.
“That even the one time I was granted access to the child, I was prohibited from posting my lovely daughter on social media and if that was disregarded, she, through an authorised family representative Mwenda would express her displeasure and that would pose a challenge when I subsequently ask to see my daughter,” Mulenga stated.
He stated that Nankamba was living with four other children and even though he was not aware of the conditions, he was meant to believe she was living with Mwenda, believed to be her husband.
Elton also stated that Mwenda had equally brought two of his children a boy and a girl aged 12 and 15 respectively and they were living with his baby mama.
He added that this meant that there were seven children and two adults living in the household.
Earlier, he explained that through a brief relationship between him and Nakamba popularly known as Mwizu, who is the complainant in this matter, they conceived and gave birth to a baby girl in 2020 who he proudly named Bukata Joana Mulenga.
He stated that on August 5, 2022, Nankamba filed into court an application for maintenance of the child.
Elton stated that since the proceedings were not contentious, they immediately settled a consent order which was more particularly dated August 23, 2022.
He stated that in the said consent order, they agreed that he be granted reasonable access to the daughter and as father of the child, he dearly loved, he joyfully took full and unqualified responsibility of the child’s education, upkeep and medical and education insurance.
Elton stated that he has gladly complied with the consent order and provided further and extra amenities including clothing, among others.
“That I paid the child’s education, upkeep medical and education needs, not so much as a term of the consent but as my responsibility as the father to Bukata my daughter. That we agreed in the consent order that each party could apply to court to vary the consent order,” Elton stated.
He stated that despite being the father of the child, let alone paying the fees and medical bills, he had never been given or shown a copy of the daughter’s school reports for him to know the progress in her school or indeed be alert of any improvements required of her so that as a father, he could immediately find redress for the same.
Elton further stated that he had never been given or shown any of her medical reports including something as basic as her weight to enable him appreciate the growth of his child.
He submitted that Nakamba has calculatively been trying to estrange and alienate the child from him.
Mulenga submitted that he repeatedly had to get information about his child through rumour and gossip or social media updates as her mother had made her life very public.
“That among examples, I was recently informed that my daughter was moved from Great North Road Academy without any consideration to consult or seek my consent despite being the father and the person paying the fees,” Mulenga stated.
He stated that the above information only came to his attention when he was trying to make payments for her school fees at her previous school saying this was embarrassing to him and it totally scarred his heart.
Mulenga stated that the most recent example is that in July 2025, his family was planning for his other daughter Tenda’s birthday and desired Bukata to celebrate with her sister.
He stated that two weeks before the event, they duly informed Nankamba and she agreed.
“To our dismay, when our advocates reached out on Friday July 4, 2025, the day before the scheduled birthday, Bukata’s mother unapologetically said she was on her way the Copperbelt with the child,” he stated.
He stated that in total disbelief, they attempted to still have the child at the function as they had already told Tendai that Bukata would be coming to celebrate with her.
Mulenga stated that they told his baby mama that they would book the Proflight mourning flight for Bukata to attend the sister’s party but sadly, to date she had never responded and the child never went, a frustrating occurrence they found difficult to explain to Tendai.
He stated that after the birthday party past, it became clear to them that in fact, Bukata was in Lusaka and Nankamba did not just want to release her and allow her to celebrate her sister’s birthday.
