A Zimbabwean granny, Ms Betha Sibanda, is desperately searching for her granddaughter.

Sibanda (61), left her home, Gweru, about 550km from Musina, on November 17, and arrived in South Africa the following morning, hoping that she would find her granddaughter, Jemina Ndlovu.

To her disappointment, Jemina (13), an orphan, was nowhere to be seen.

“My granddaughter disappeared from home in Bulawayo on May 7. She was initially staying there with her stepmother, Sarah Ndlovu. Sarah searched for her all over the place and we thought she would go to Harare, but she could not find her. Sarah also went to Beit Bridge two times after she heard that Jemina was seen there. On her second visit to Beit Bridge last month, Sarah was told that Jemina was seen in Musina,” said Sibanda.

Sibanda said she decided to come to South Africa to search for her granddaughter, because Sarah could not cross the border as she did not have a passport. “When I arrived here on Thursday, I was taken to a woman named Samantha, who is working as a street-vendor at Musina taxi rank in town, but that Samantha was not her. I also visited all the refugee centres in Musina, but she was not there. Even Doctors without Borders and Save the Children in Musina said they did not see her,” said Sibanda.

Sibanda said she was disappointed once again when she visited the local police at Musina police station as she could not get her granddaughter, even though the police tried their best in helping her with the search and creating awareness through the local community radio station, Musina Community Radio.

As she was about to throw in the towel, Sibanda said the local community advised her to use the local newspaper.

“I want Jemina to know that I want her home, so that she can come and continue with her studies at Nkulumane High School where she was in Grade 8. I want Jemina to know that when she comes back, I will welcome her with open arms as I am not going to judge or blame her."

Jemina lost her mother, Jilaan Ndlovu (Sibanda), who passed away when Jemina was two months old. She was left in the care of her stepmother, Sarah, who was married toJemina’s father, Calvin Ndlovu, who later died in August 2008.

Sibanda pleaded that anybody with information about her granddaughter should phone 079 649 8678 or call Sibanda’s church colleague in Musina, Calvin Nkala at 083 687 0605.