Photographs, identity documents, a copy of a birth certificate, an item of clothing, their favourite gardening tools, their childhood home, their primary school, their children – these are the only reminders that they existed, that they lived, that their families miss them.
Each piece of this puzzle represents a migrant from Zimbabwe who went missing during his or her migration journey. The families of these missing migrants will not forget them. Time does not heal, answers do.
Families are not alone in their loss and suffering. This puzzle symbolizes their shared struggle in the search for their missing loved ones.
Like, this incomplete puzzle, for the families, the search continues.
Click on the pieces of puzzle to read the families’ testimonies.
“I want him to come home so that we face these challenges together. I am 75 and he is 78, he is still my husband and my wish is that he comes back. As you can see, I never left our home, I am still waiting.”
Leader Whara
“Each time we speak about him, I get emotional and things get heavy. Maybe that’s why my life is not moving forward because one of us is missing and dad wants me to find him.”
Busani Mkhwananzi
“South, East, whatever, home is the best. If they are going through difficulties wherever they are, once they phone me, I will speak to the ancestors on their behalf.”
Isaac Mafisto Matanhire
“I love you my only son and I promise that if you come home, I won’t resent you for going away. You will tell me all your problems and I will listen with no judgement. Please come home.”
Nolitha Ndlovu
“All I ask for, my son, is for you to come home. I miss you because it has been many years now. Please remember me, your mother.”
Tracy Ndiweni
“I’d be very happy to see them again. Their absence is probably what caused my high blood pressure. I’m still taking tablets. On some nights I can’t sleep, wondering if they are still alive.”
Margaret Phiri
“I’ve heard rumours that he now has a South African wife. They are both welcome here. He left a son who was a year old, today he’s 19 and he has never seen his father.”
Sarah Maseko
“I’m not happy at all because I thought I raised him well but he doesn’t seem to care about me anymore. A phone call from him would make me happy, I will know where his spirit is and it will bring me peace, too.”
Angela Zulu
“I wish to see him. We are alive but struggling, I have a family of five children and their father left. I wish he was here to help.”
Nosipho Khumalo
“Fanuel used to help us a lot, things have been tough since he went missing because my husband is not feeling well. I have never met my niece and nephew but I want them to know that we are looking for them and we want to hear if all is well wherever they are.”
Catherine Tshuma
“Father, I am looking for you, I am in pain, I had a difficult childhood, if you are alive, please come back home to Matobo, in Mhlophe village. Me and my sister are now old but we still hope to see you again.”
Agnes Ncube
“I’d be so grateful if he’s found, my heart will be at peace. I haven’t given up.”
Solomon Ncube
“We love him, since because he’s the last born. He also loved us, he was full of love. He also loved church.”
Otilia Moyo
“I miss him and the things he did for us, although he was not yet married, he showed a lot of focus. Sometimes we dream about him because our hearts are sore.”
Naflora Moyo
“We really miss him and we have tried looking for him through our prophets at church. We are told he is alive but he is suffering. I want God to intervene and let him know that he will always be welcome here.”
Sibongile Moyo
“I miss my young brother a lot. Our parents had separated and that could have triggered his departure. He told our aunt that when he’s with mom, he misses dad and when he’s with him, he misses mom. Those were his last words around the time he left. I wish he could come back so he can see where our parents are buried.”
Ntombizodwa Ndlovu
“I miss my son. Right now, I’m not feeling well and I’ll probably die in his absence and that makes me sad. I don’t have a cow, but if he comes back, I will slaughter one for him.”
Agnes Ndlovu
“This is probably his 22nd year since he has been gone. What hurts me is that he left as an unhappy person because our aunt, who was our guardian, treated him very badly.”
Edna Moyo
“I miss my young brother because he is my only hope. I wish he could come home because we need him.”
Thuso Moyo
“He loved bricklaying and he loved fashion. I want my son to come back because two of my other children have now passed on and I’m hurting. In his absence, I’m left with only one son.”
Mafanyedza Dube
“He is my first child and I had high hopes that he would look after me and his siblings. His dad and grandparents have all since passed on after his departure. Please come back home my son.”
Sehlisiwe Siziba
“We miss this boy because he is my brother’s oldest son, meaning he’s a brother to all our children and there is seven us.”
Ability Sibanda
“She has a family, two daughters, she was very supportive towards them. Now that she’s gone it’s been hard for us all. I miss her and I trust that If she is still alive, God will return her to us at his own time.”
Matilda Ndlovu
“It’s such a huge loss because he’s the big brother, he’s like a father to us. He was a jovial character too, he’d dance and sing for me when I was pregnant but he left before my son was born, now he’s 26. Even if he can’t come back, just a text or a call from him would relieve us all. I think about him a lot.”
Asia Thomani
“I miss my daughter she was a very strong young woman, she was dedicated in everything she did for us, especially around the house. Even her leaving was because of her desire to help us.”
Margarine Ndlovu
“Mama, it’s Qhubekani. Your children and grandchildren miss you. It’s difficult when you are not here. We need you. Where you left us is where we still are. Please come back.”
Qhubekani Nyathi
“Carrying a child for nine months is not joke. He’s the last born and I only have two sons. I’m really hurting. Only God knows how happy I will be if he came back.”
Stella Ndlovu
“Since he was the last born, he was helping me here. Now I have no one. I am alone, as you can see me.”
Molly Ncube
“I miss him and every day I wonder why he cut contact. God is great and I believe he will be back.”
Musa Ncube
“We used to get along a lot. He left his child before he started Grade one and he now has his own two children. He asks a lot of questions about his dad.”
Nokuthula Moyo
“My son, how can I suffer like this? I was hoping maybe my life would change. I rely on these bricks (brickmaking) for me to eat. I am really struggling.”
Senzeni Mposi
“He was such a good child, looked after us very well before the devil intervened.”
Essiliah Dube
“He’s always on my mind. I don’t know what got into my son. I could talk about him until I cry. I used to have dreams about him until the start of the pandemic.”
Etta Hlongwane
“If he can just call us and let us know he is well. At some point I even suspected that he had been killed by the friends he travelled with. In 2018 I heard from someone who claimed they were in jail together, somewhere in Durban. That renewed my hope.”
Svodai Dzviriri
“I wish he could come back, as others who come back and bring phones and other goodies for their loved ones. His mother had a stroke, because of stress induced by missing him.”
Chipiwa Svosve
“He loved preaching, farming and growing flowers. He loved dressing well. I hope that one day he will have the spirit to come back home again.”
Tsungai Hungwe
“What hurts me the most is that he’s my late brother’s first-born son, I raised this boy. Even if he doesn’t want to come back home it’s fine, I just want to know if he is alright and has started a family. We need him to lead the next generation.”
Patrick Chapungu
“He was a quiet person, he loved God. When we were at church, he would read the bible. He used to take care of me and sometimes he’d cook for me when I wasn’t feeling well. We were very close. I just wish I could see him, if he can at least phone me, God bless you wherever you are.”
Nerisa Kunodziya
“My brother was a difficult character, he drank a lot and smoked. He didn’t listen to anyone. Inspite of everything, I loved him, I would cook for him and do his laundry. I even bought him clothes. I wish to see him again, his twin daughters that he left as toddlers are now teenagers and they need him.”
Monica Mlambo
“Clement was gifted craftsman who made baskets for a living. He also loved his alcohol. What we want is for him to at least get in touch, this is his home and is welcome to come back anytime.”
Gedion Tonhodzai Moyo
“I wish he was here. His father is now on his own because Panganai’s young brother passed on. He should at least come back, just to see us and he can go back if that’s now his new home. As things stand, we don’t know if he is alive or not.”
Martha Mahara
“He’s been gone for 14 years now. It hurts me, he is my last born and I had great hopes for him. We are struggling without him, I lay awake at night because of stress, thinking about him.”
Nellie Chazika
“As an obedient son, I miss him so much. I just want to see him, or hear from him, my heart would be at peace.”
Vimbai Chikerema
“I wish he was here so that we can share ideas, as we used to. So that we could help each other, he is my only brother. If he is dead, I would like to see his body so that we can bury him properly. It would also bring us peace.”
Lovemore Chimuka
“I would like them to come back home because we all miss them. My fear is that when they come back after we are dead, these children here won’t recognise them. As a family, you do feel the absence. They also left without kids so we don’t even have anything to hold on to.”
Chipiwa Tombodzai
“Whenever I see people playing football, I can’t help but miss these boys more. Liveson was the better student at school while Blessed just loved his football, he played for the school team. My wish is that one day they call home, or visit, just once. We just want to know if all is well.”
Christina Chamunorwa
“She was the one who looked after me here, since her father died. She did everything until 2012 when we lost contact. It hurts. If she can be found, let her come here in person, I don’t want to hear that she has been found, I have to see her. That’s my hope.”
Evelyn Muchesa
“I am not asking for much, I just want to see my daughter.”
Samuel Dzingai
“He used to help me a lot with many tasks, helping in the fields, fetching firewood. If he’s alive, may he come back home because our mother is really struggling without him, in her pain, she sometimes wishes she hadn’t had a son after all.”
Melody Chekenyere
“He left in 2002. I wish if he was here because he is the only son. My son, I don’t care what you bring us, what I want is your return, we miss you.”
Sostina Chiragwi
“He was a fun-loving character who enjoyed his drink. He could be violent if provoked. We miss him a lot and his mother is unwell, she can’t walk because of old age. She’s always asking about him. What we want is for him to come home and look after his mother, or at least send some groceries.”
Freddie Matimba
“Used to come home at least three times a year, until 2002. He’d pay school fees for his siblings. What I want is for him to come back so I can see him, as my last born, my heart is not settled in his absence.”
Vongai Samboko
“Ranga, if you can hear this, please come back home. What’s stopping you from coming home? Even if you think you are now too old, just come back. If you have a family, even better, bring them, let us meet them. You are all welcome here.”
Juliet Rukwava
“If he is still around, please, I want him to come home or at least show us his children. Children are very important, if we can at least see his children, we will also be happy.”
Catherine Chikweme
“He left 2001, and never came back. If he is alive, may he please come back and see his family, he left when I was pregnant with Emmanuel and he is now 20 and wishes to meet his father.”
Kennita Mutasa
“He had a disagreement with my mother and he left and never came back. I am hurting because I grew up as an orphan when he is there somewhere. His departure caused my mother to die of high blood pressure.”
Josephine Mukwebwa
“He was a very good and understanding child. He was also very handy and we could rely on him to do almost any household chores, including cooking. I just want him to phone and let me know that he’s fine.”
Deliwe Shomwe
“I think it’s about 25 years now since he left. He was a good person, I miss him in so many ways. He was the breadwinner in the family. I wish that God can intervene and we find him, we miss him so much. He is a person we can’t afford to lose as a family and a community.”
Miriam Machingauta
“My sister was a good person but she loved her alcohol and had a temper. We were best friends. If she’s still alive and hearing this, I want her to call me. Last week I dreamt about her and it stressed me a lot.”
Josephine Mupambwi
“If Melba was here things would be much better and her absence is a huge loss. Melba, if you are alive, please call and let me know how things are going on your side and I also update you on life this side.”
Rudo Nyakunu
