This archive report was first published on 10 January 2020.
South African-based Ugandan businesswoman Zari Hassan has been at the center of controversy since the demise of her ex-husband Ivan 'Don' Ssemwanga in 2017.
Published on January 10, 2020, Zari has had to constantly fight off critics claiming she is flaunting her late husband's wealth, particularly after her firstborn son Pinto Ntale was named the official heir of his multi-million estate.
However, Zari has come out to set the record straight and address claims that she is riding on Ivan's wealth, insisting that she played a role in creating the wealth.
"When they call it inheritance, I say we started from the bottom. You all know us after 2020 and not before. Get your facts right. We hustled all the way up. Go get yourself some inheritance too. It should be easy, right?" she wrote on her Instagram.
She also shared a throwback picture of her and Ivan, highlighting her struggles before meeting him.
"From studying my cosmetology course in the UK (which hasn't helped me) while doing house girl work to pay my accommodation (yes I've been a maid before) to running through buses to get to my next stop wood green where I worked as a cashier and sometimes as an isle packer in Sainsbury," she narrated.
She encouraged her followers to strive for what they want in life, saying "consistency is key. Doesn't matter where you are or what you do. Just do it."
