THE MISSING: Zimbabwe | She'd Never Leave Her Son Behind | NBC Left Field

Nomalanga Ndlovu was only 18 when she first left her village in southern Zimbabwe and crossed the border into South Africa in search of work. She wanted to support her family, who had recently lost much of their livestock to drought. Zimbabweans have historically sought work opportunities in neighboring South Africa, which is home to the continent’s strongest economy. But getting work visas is difficult, so many opt for irregular border crossings that can be deadly, including wading across the crocodile-infested waters of the Limpopo River separating the two countries. Women face additional risks on the trek, including physical and sexual abuse from smugglers, criminals, and other migrants traveling with them. After Nomalanga became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy, Siyabonga, she left the child with her parents to return to her job as a domestic worker in South Africa. But on this fateful trip across the border in 2012, she disappeared. Knowing she would never abandon her son, her family fears the worst. In the Gwanda district of Zimbabwe, we meet Nomalanga’s mother, Margarine, who looks to get answers about her daughter from wherever she can.