A prominent gospel musician, Sebastian Magacha, is facing allegations of neglecting his daughter, with claims that he is so out of touch with her life that he recently celebrated the wrong birthday.
Magacha reportedly posted on his WhatsApp status celebrating what he believed was his daughter’s seventh birthday, but according to the child’s mother, the girl had only turned six. The error, she says, reflects how distant he has become from his daughter’s life.
The mother has taken legal action, bringing the matter to the Harare Civil Court, accusing Magacha of failing to provide for the child. He has until Tuesday to file his response, with the hearing scheduled for Friday.
In her court affidavit, the mother stated that the two were briefly involved in a romantic relationship in 2018, which led to the birth of their daughter. She explained that their relationship ended while she was two months pregnant. After the birth, the two initially agreed to co-parent, with Magacha committing to contribute to the child’s upbringing by covering school fees, serious medical expenses, and making a monthly payment of US$100 for general needs, including food.
However, she alleges that the last time Magacha made any contribution was in November 2023.
“My legal advisers have informed me that both parents are legally obligated to support their child,” she wrote in her affidavit. “Magacha’s failure to contribute is not only morally wrong but also against the law.”
She also pointed out that Magacha has a steady income through his music career and related business ventures. During their time together, she noted, he could earn around US$1,500 per performance.
Despite repeated efforts to reach out to him, she claims he has been unresponsive, making it difficult to secure support for the child, which has in turn caused financial strain and emotional distress.
She also cited a specific incident in January 2024, where he failed to pay the child’s full school fees. After pressure from her, he eventually covered about three-quarters of the fees, leaving her to pay the rest. She followed up again in February to get reimbursed but says he failed to follow through on his promises.
The mother also criticised Magacha’s disconnection from the child’s life, pointing to the recent birthday mix-up as a telling example. In May 2024, she says the child fell seriously ill, and while she informed Magacha, he did not assist with medical bills or show concern.
She argues that Magacha, who has been actively performing — including at the AFM Youth Conference in April 2025 and with a planned UK tour, has the financial means to support the child but has wilfully neglected his responsibilities.
Furthermore, she highlighted that he is actively involved in the life of his younger child from his current marriage, underscoring a disparity in the treatment of his children.
She is requesting that the court compel Magacha to resume financial support. Specifically, she is seeking US$250 monthly, with interest, to cover the child’s needs, broken down as follows: US$50 for a house aide assisting with the child, US$50 for school transport, US$70 for meals and lunch provisions, and US$80 for developmental activities such as swimming and clothing.
H-metro
