Zimbabwean UFC welterweight Themba Gorimbo has never hidden his painful past. Now, he has opened up further.
Recently, Gorimbo shared a raw video on Facebook about his family. In it, he explained how relatives treated him after tragedy struck. His mother died when he was young, and his father later passed away. From that moment, life changed dramatically.
Branded ‘Mubvandiripo’ by His Own Family
According to Gorimbo, some family members, including his brother, began calling him “Mubvandiripo.” The Shona term roughly means “the one who just exists.” It often implies someone unwanted or merely tolerated. That label cut deeply. It made him feel like an outsider in his own bloodline.
He believes the nickname came from disputes over his late father’s property. Relatives appeared eager to push him aside. Gorimbo says he never benefited from that inheritance after turning seventeen. Instead, he had to fend for himself, even as others controlled his parents’ estate.
Success in America, Family Back in the Picture
As his fighting career took off, everything shifted again. Gorimbo moved to the United States in pursuit of his UFC dreams. There, he trained, struggled, and eventually emerged as a rising welterweight contender.
Once he gained recognition, those same relatives resurfaced. They now wanted closeness with the fighter they once sidelined. Remarkably, Gorimbo opened his heart again. He tried to help them, even searching for job opportunities for some in America. His generosity showed how deeply he still valued family ties.
However, tensions soon returned. As he tells it, conflict, jealousy, and entitlement followed. Some relatives allegedly created fresh problems, testing his patience and emotional strength.
Cutting Ties to Protect the Innocent
Eventually, Gorimbo made a difficult decision. He cut off contact with almost the entire family. That included relatives he considered innocent. He says this harsh step actually aimed to protect them. If they kept talking to him, others might accuse them of receiving secret money.
By stepping away, he hoped to shield them from gossip and hostility. It was a painful act of love, not bitterness.
Gorimbo’s story highlights the darker side of success. When poverty, inheritance, and expectation mix, family bonds can fracture. Yet his journey also reveals resilience.
Despite betrayal, he continues building a better life and giving back. In Zimbabwe and beyond, he funds projects like boreholes and community support.
Through it all, Themba Gorimbo keeps fighting. Not only in the Octagon, but also for peace, dignity, and self-respect.
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The post ‘They called me Mubvandiripo’: Themba Gorimbo explains family rejection (video) appeared first on iHarare News.
