AFTER 22 long years of silence and distance, fate has written a new chapter in a remarkable story of love, loss and reunion by bringing back two sisters in each other’s lives.
The two sisters were separated by circumstances beyond their control after the loss of their parents in Chandamali farm, Mufulira district 22 years ago.
28 year old Natasha Chilembo from Kitwe in Copperbelt Province shared her story that began in 2003 when she was separated from her sister identified as Grace.
Chilembo told #Kalemba that both her and Grace were taken from their home after they were sent to different Catholic orphanages in Ndola.
In 2008, Chilembo then relocated to her grandmother’s home in Kitwe which ultimately distanced her even further from her beloved sister.
As time went by, Chilembo embarked on a tireless search, scouring orphanages and Catholic schools in Ndola in the hope of discovering any trace of her sister’s whereabouts.
As her search continued, Chilembo’s perseverance was repeatedly met with frustration and dismissal as her efforts to track down her sister were repeatedly drained and she was repeatedly confronted with skepticism and apathy from those she turned to for help.
“Despite my persistence and dedication, I was repeatedly met with doubt from those who should have been helping me. They questioned my motives, asking why a child like me was searching for my sister without adult assistance,” she recalled.
“We could not find each other for so long because she was using her middle name, Gladys, while I was using my full name, Natasha Chilembo.”
Chilembo still forged ahead, channeling her resilience and determination into new avenues of investigation by recognising the immense potential of social media as she turned to the internet, posting her story on various online platforms in the hope that someone somewhere might recognise her or hold the key to finding Grace.
Her efforts finally paid off when her Facebook story gained traction online on April 10, 2025 and was eventually seen by Grace herself, who had also been searching for her missing sister for the past years.
“The emotion of finally finding my sister after all these years is impossible to put into words. It is a moment that has defied all odds and defied all expectations,” Chilembo added.
“Finding my sister was a dream come true because we shared a special connection from the moment we were born, almost like twins. This reunion is an incredible blessing, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with her after all these years.”
Chilembo has further anticipated the chance to relive cherished childhood memories with her sister, cherishing their long-awaited reunion and the opportunity to pick up where they had left off.
“I am so excited to reconnect with my sister, to relive our childhood memories, and to make up for lost time. We have so many experiences to share with each other.”
By Sharon Zulu
Credit: Kalemba