Kudakwashe Mahachi

Child Abuse Allegations

In May 2022, Kudakwashe Mahachi's son from his first marriage had his right foot amputated. Maritha Ndlovu accused Mahachi of abusing his son with the help of his wife Rose Mahachi.

B-Metro reported that Mahachi called his ex-wife in February 2022, requesting for their son to travel to South Africa and temporarily stay with his father, to which she agreed.

The boy’s mother alleges that she only learnt that her son was back in Zimbabwe and staying in Cowdry Park, Bulawayo with Mahachi’s grandmother, on April 19 as she had been blocked on WhatsApp by Kudakwashe Mahachi.

Ndlovu claimed that she went to get her son as soon as she heard he was in Zimbabwe and saw him heavily bandaged with burns all over his body.

The mother alleged that the burns were third-degree and the boy was smuggled back into Zimbabwe by a Malayitsha.

In response, Kudakwashe Mahachi denied abusing his child. He accused his ex-wife of lying and insisted their son got burnt in Zimbabwe instead.^[1]

In an Asakhane Live video that was deleted on Facebook, Mahachi blamed his sisters with a close relative for his son’s burns. He said he was not responsible for his son’s injuries and dismissed claims that he could have hurt him for ritual purposes. Said Mahachi:

"People believe what they have read. Firstly, my son’s pictures are circulating. Why are people circulating the pictures when my child is in pain? Secondly, people say I used my son for money rituals. How can I hurt my son for money rituals? This thing pains me because no one wants to hear my side of the story. My sisters, know what they did. They know what they injected my son with. My son left South Africa in one piece, he was okay and he was walking. My sisters know the doctor they used to inject my son and everything."

^[2]

Mahachi’s sisters, Meline Mahachi and Sinikiwe Sibanda declined to comment when contacted by B-Metro.

In May 2022, Kudakwashe Mahachi threatened to sue his ex-wife Maritha Ndlovu for defamation, pain and suffering after she accused him of scalding their four-year-old son with boiling water.

Mahachi demanded that Ndlovu retract the interviews she granted the media and apologise to him in writing or else he would sue her for $55 million.^[3]

According to a report by B-Metro, Mahachi told his sisters and a pastor that his son's third-degree burns were a form of cancer that developed after the minor was assaulted by goblins.

Ekukhanyeni International Church of Christ cleric Jabulani Nzimah-Ndlovu told the publication that one of Mahachi’s sisters called him to come and pray for the child.

Ndlovu said when he got to the Mahachi residence, he saw the child in bandages on the head and legs.

He said when he asked them what was happening and they informed him that Kudakwashe Mahachi told them the child had cancer and he convinced them that it was a result of goblins.

Ndlovu said he told them it was not cancer, but burns and advised them to take the child to a hospital and inform his mother immediately.

Ndlovu said he then contacted Kudakwashe Mahachi who was adamant that his son had been harmed by goblins.

Ndlovu in turn said he told Mahachi that the goblin's excuse was nonsense and urged him to tell the truth.

Ndlovu also revealed that he interviewed the child who disclosed without hesitation that his father had boiled water using a kettle and poured it on him.^[4]

Suspension

On 13 May 2022, SuperSport United suspended Kudakwashe Mahachi following allegations that he had scaled his son with hot water leading to serious injuries.^[5]

SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthews Mahachi's contract, which was set to expire on 30 June, 2022, was not going to be renewed. Said, Matthews:

We suspended him from all football activities at that time, and he remained suspended. His contract expires on the 30th of June, so there won’t really be any further action on our part.

We’ve encouraged him to focus on clearing his name and making sure his child gets the best-rehabilitated care possible, given the current situation.

That is something you’d need to speak to Kuda about, as, from a club perspective, his contract expires at the end of the month, so it won’t be renewed.

He remains on suspension until all these issues between himself and his personal family situation are resolved.

Acquittal On Theft Charges

On 26 July 2022, Mahachi was acquitted of theft charges by Bulawayo magistrate Vivian Ndlovu.^[6]

He was being accused of snatching and damaging an XP iPhone belonging to his sister, Meline, allegedly in a bid to destroy evidence in a case in which he was being accused of scalding his four-year-old son with boiling water.

The magistrate noted the state failed to prove the essential elements of the case.

Ndlovu said during the cross-examination, it became apparent that there was bad blood between the complainant and the accused.

Acquittal On Attempted Murder Charges

On 25 November 2022, Mahachi was acquitted of two separate counts of attempted murder by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mark Dzira.^[7]

He was facing two counts of attempting to kill his four-year-old son, Diego.

Magistrate Dzira dismissed the case and acquitted Mahachi, noting that the State failed to prove the essential elements of the case while the evidence given by the witnesses was contradictory and disjointed during cross-examination.

The magistrate said other witnesses who testified also gave inconsistent testimonies and it was difficult to ascertain who was lying and who was telling the truth.

Dzira also said the medical experts could not figure out the cause of the injuries suffered by Mahachi's son.

Career

Mahachi at Monaco

Mahachi started his football career at Highlanders Football Club junior set-up. After a successful junior team spell with Highlanders, Mahachi moved to join Bantu Rovers Football Club.

At the beginning of the 2013 season, Mahachi was sold to Chicken Inn Football Club where he was a key figure in the Bulawayo-based premier league club.

His season at Chicken Inn earned him a transfer to South African club Sundowns. After signing for Sundowns he was then loaned back to Highlanders ^[8] in the 2014 season staying for the first half of the season.

He was called for trials in France with the French club AS Monaco, where he spent 2 weeks on trials with the club.

He made an appearance in a friendly match for Monaco against FC St Veit, a match in which he scored a goal.^[9] His transfer to Monaco would not materialise and he returned back to Sundowns.^[10]

In September 2015, Mahachi was loaned to Golden Arrows after failing to break into the first team at Mamelodi Sundowns.^[11]

He scored three goals and contributed four assists in 19 Premiership appearances for Arrows.^[12]

Mahachi was not registered by the Mamelodi Sundowns for the 2015/2016 season. Golden Arrows signed him on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns.^[13]

In 2018, he joined Orlando Pirates from Mamelodi Sundowns having spent three seasons at Golden Arrows.^[14]

He spent just a single season with Pirates before joining SuperSport United in June 2019.^[15]

Mahachi joined Pirates from Mamelodi Sundowns prior to the start of the 2018/19 season following a successful loan stint with Arrows. He then joined SuperSport United ahead of the 2019/20 season to revive his career.^[16]

In May 2022, SuperSport United suspended Mahachi amid allegations that the player scalded his 4-year-old son with hot water leading to serious injuries.^[17]

Supersport United did not renew Mahachi's contract when it expired on 30 June 2022.

The club advised him to attend to the child abuse allegations he was facing and clear his name.

In January 2023, Mahachi trained with Maritzburg United as he wanted to get his career back on track.^[18]

But the Team of Choice decided not to sign him, as he didn’t impress coach Fadlu Davids enough.

In March 2023, Mahachi was invited for a trial stint by Gibraltar professional football team, FCB Magpies.^[19]

In June 2023, Mahachi's agent, Gibson Mahachi claimed that Highlanders had expressed their interest in signing his client during the June window.^[20]

In August 2023, Mahachi joined Ghanaian club Medeama SC on a one-year renewable contract on a free transfer.^[21]

In January 2024, Medeama released Mahachi just five months after signing him. The "Mauve and Yellows" said Mahachi had struggled to cement his role due to a lack of fitness.^[22]

National Team Caps

Mahachi first earned a national cap when he was called by the national team coach Ian Gorowa against Zambia in the African Nations Championship qualifier.^[23] He has been a key figure in the warriors team. He helped the warriors finish fourth at the African Nations Championship.^[24] Soon after joining Sundowns, Mahachi was described as “Zimbabwe’s next best export” ^[25] During the CAF Africa Nations Championship Mahachi danced with the ball through the Mali defenders to score a beautiful goal that won the Supersport Moment of the Day.^[26]

Controversy/Scandal

It was once alleged that Mahachi's wife was impregnated by a cross-border trader. Upon realising what had happened, he went on to assault his wife.^[27] Mahachi's wife is said to have cohabited with Lloyd Sibanda while their daughter was sick at the time. Mahachi however denied having assaulted her and the charges which had been pressed.^[28]

Picture Gallery

References