Long-distance relationships often come with unique challenges, but Zari Hassan believes the key to making one work is surprisingly simple: communication.
The entrepreneur and reality television personality has opened up about how she and her husband, Shakib Cham, stay emotionally connected despite spending time apart. According to Zari, frequent conversations throughout the day have become an essential part of their marriage, helping them maintain trust, understanding, and a sense of closeness regardless of the distance.
For the mother of five, staying in touch isn’t just a habit—it’s part of how their relationship functions.
Speaking in a recent interview, Zari admitted that living apart is not always easy.
Instead of allowing the distance to create uncertainty, she said the couple makes a deliberate effort to keep each other informed about their daily routines through regular phone calls and updates.
“We call each other like 1000 times daily. I update him about my stressful meetings and he comforts me, advising me to take some juice.”
The updates go both ways.
According to Zari, Shakib also shares details about his own day, whether he has finished praying at the mosque, gone to the shop, or is spending time with friends.
“He does the same to tell me about his day, when he’s from praying at the mosque, when he has gone to the shop, or when he is with his friends.”
For Zari, those conversations are less about checking up on each other and more about making sure they remain emotionally present in each other’s lives.
She was also quick to address a common misconception about their relationship.
Some people, she said, mistake their constant communication for controlling behaviour.
Zari disagrees with that interpretation.
“There’s nothing wrong with that, it doesn’t mean you control the man. We are in long distance, communication is key.”
She explained that every relationship has its own dynamics and that couples should be free to establish the habits that work best for them.
The socialite added that Shakib intentionally keeps her informed because he understands how important communication is to her.
She jokingly suggested that failing to update her could easily lead to unnecessary disagreements, making regular check-ins a simple way of avoiding misunderstandings.
According to Zari, outside opinions often complicate relationships more than they help.
“People want to think for you how your relationship should be more than you.”
She believes that those inside the relationship—not outsiders—are best placed to decide what keeps their bond healthy and strong.
Zari even shared an example of how detailed their communication can be.
She revealed that whenever Shakib goes for a steam bath, he lets her know beforehand that he is leaving his phone at the reception because he won’t be able to carry it inside.
“Even when Shakib is going for steam, he tells me he has left the phone charging at the reception and calls me after the steam, all sweating. I also tell him what I’m doing.”
For her, these seemingly small updates help reinforce trust rather than create pressure.
Zari Hassan and Shakib Cham have remained one of East Africa’s most talked-about celebrity couples.
Their relationship has regularly attracted public attention, with fans often following updates about their marriage and personal lives on social media and through interviews.
Because the couple sometimes lives in different locations, they have had to navigate the realities of a long-distance marriage. Rather than allowing the distance to weaken their connection, Zari says they have developed communication habits that keep them involved in each other’s everyday lives.
Her latest comments offer a personal look at how they manage the practical and emotional demands of maintaining a relationship across different locations.
Long-distance relationships are increasingly common, making Zari’s perspective relatable to many couples facing similar circumstances.
Her comments highlight how communication can help partners maintain trust, reduce misunderstandings, and stay emotionally connected even when they are physically apart.
At the same time, her remarks challenge the idea that frequent updates automatically signal insecurity or control, suggesting instead that every relationship should be built around the expectations agreed upon by the people in it.
Human Angle
Behind the celebrity headlines, Zari’s story reflects the everyday effort required to keep a relationship strong across the miles.
Whether discussing business meetings, time with friends, prayers at the mosque, or even a trip to the steam bath, the couple has built a routine around staying connected through ordinary moments.
For Zari, those conversations are not about keeping tabs on each other—they are about making sure distance never gets in the way of feeling close.
As Zari sees it, long-distance love isn’t sustained by grand gestures alone. Sometimes, it’s the everyday conversations that make the biggest difference.