25-year-old accident victim fights to walk again

FOR 25-year-old Ms Nomathemba Ncube, life changed in an instant when a journey back to Bulawayo from the rural areas turned into a nightmare.

In January 2026, the vehicle she was travelling in was involved in a devastating accident that left her with a severe spinal cord injury and unable to move her legs.

A former hardworking staff member at a local hotel, Ms Ncube has been a familiar face at the hotel, but she now spends her days in hospital hoping that she will one day walk again.

Doctors have given her a glimmer of hope, saying intensive physiotherapy could help her regain sensation and possibly movement in her lower limbs.

But for Ms Ncube, the chance of recovery comes at a cost she cannot afford. She urgently needs US$1 530 to fund a six-month physiotherapy programme, which includes three therapy sessions a week and transport to and from the clinic in Bulawayo.

The treatment requires about US$255 a month hence she is appealing to well-wishers, the community and local businesses to assist.

For Ms Ncube, physiotherapy is more than just treatment — it represents her chance to regain her independence and return to the life she knew before the accident.

“This is my only chance to walk again,” she pleaded in an interview from her hospital bed. “I want to return to work and live an independent life. I am asking anyone who is able to aid me. I don’t wish to spend my life in a wheelchair.”

She said any contribution will make a difference in her life as she hopes to walk again.

Ms Ncube said donations can be sent via EcoCash to 078 009 2389.