An 84-year-old South African woman living in rural Zimbabwe is appealing for help in locating her family in Bloemfontein, after decades of separation that have made it impossible for her to trace them on her own.
Nombithi Mciha originally came from the Orange Free State during the Rhodesian era and has spent the greater part of her life in Mharadza Village, Zaka District, Masvingo Province, Zimbabwe.
The vast distance between her and her homeland, combined with the passage of time, has left her with nothing but memories and a handful of names.
The Names She Still Holds Close
Nombithi recalls that her father was named Phithimalo and her mother Selinah, and that her family totem is UmTsha. She remembers four siblings: Mnyamani, Tandiwe, Zenzo, and Nomalanga.
Those details are all she has to go on, but they may be enough for someone who recognises even one of the names as reported by Briefly.co.za.
On August 11, 2026, Facebook user Ezra Tshisa Sibanda shared her story and plea, urging people across southern Africa to circulate the post as widely as possible.
Anyone who has information that could help locate Nombithi’s relatives is asked to contact Shadreck on +263 781 416 543 or +263 788 079 700.
View the Facebook post below:
A Story That Struck a Chord Online
The appeal quickly drew a wave of sympathy and practical suggestions from people who saw echoes of their own family histories in Nombithi’s situation.
Chedu Brandy suggested: “Contact Khumbul’ekhaya; they’ll help you trace the relatives of the old woman by airing it on national television.”.
Khopotso Madela offered some context: “She probably got married to a Zimbabwean many years ago before landlines and cellphones. I think that’s why she lost contact; maybe visiting home was expensive. All the best Gogo!”
The post also moved Themba Maseko to share a deeply personal parallel: “Exactly the story of my late mom, who originates from Ermelo, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Her name is Ellen Hluli Mndebele. I wish to locate her family in Mpumalanga.”
Sara Ndiweni offered an encouraging word about the chances of a reunion: “It’s good that she remembers lots of her family members; the information is enough to help her locate them masinyane [quickly].”
With her memory still sharp enough to recall names spanning two generations, Nombithi’s hope rests with strangers willing to pass her story along until it reaches someone in Bloemfontein who recognises the family she has not seen in a lifetime.
