Themba Gorimbo made history as the first Zimbabwean to win a UFC match, but his journey to success has come with a painful price. The UFC star has severed ties with his entire family and distanced himself from his homeland, revealing a deeply personal struggle with expectations, entitlement, and what he calls “black tax.”
In a candid interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Gorimbo opened up about his controversial decision. “I don’t talk to any of my family members anymore. None. I have cut all my family members off my phone. Nobody. I blocked them,” he stated plainly.
The breaking point came after a loss that exposed harsh realities about his relationship with Zimbabwe. “When I lost my last fight, online the most people that were crucifying me were Zimbabweans. And my cousins and my family members were celebrating my loss,” Gorimbo explained. “That changes a man, especially on the lowest times of your career.”
Gorimbo’s frustration stems from what he describes as a lack of support during his rise. “Nobody in Zimbabwe supported me, including my own family didn’t support me. I had this dream by myself. I went after this by myself. People laughed at me when I was doing this,” he said. Growing up, people dismissed his aspirations, suggesting he was pursuing something that leads to poverty.
Central to Gorimbo’s decision is the concept of “black tax,” the cultural expectation that successful Africans must financially support extended family.
“My family feels entitled because that’s how our mindsets in Africa are. We are blackmailed that we cannot say no,” he revealed. “The black tax is real in Africa, and we cannot say no to somebody asking for money.”
His stance extends beyond just blocking phone numbers. “I don’t belong to Zimbabwe. I belong to the universe. I belong to every single person that wants to take inspiration from me,” Gorimbo declared.
He even expressed a wish that defies African tradition: “If I die, I don’t need to be buried in my village. Burn my body, go throw my dust in Kruger National Park.”
Despite this separation, Gorimbo continues charitable work in Zimbabwe, having auctioned his gear to build boreholes providing clean water in his village, where he once suffered from bilharzia due to contaminated water sources. He also pays school fees for children and supports various community projects.
“I’m not doing it for Zimbabwe. I’m doing it for myself. I’m doing it for my heart,” he explained, emphasizing that his generosity comes from personal conviction, not obligation or national pride.
