IF you are a TikTok lover, then you have probably come across a video or videos featuring Zemambwe munching on bread or just simply doing house chores.
47 year old Mambwe Chabala, fondly known by many on social media, as Zemambwe has become a viral sensation without herself even realising it.
Zemambwe is a nickname born from a playful family rivalry between the TikTok star and her niece with whom they share the name Mambwe.
Her nickname is now used by thousands of strangers across social media who follow her daily life.
She has lived with her elder sister Veronica Chabala, the mother to Zemambwe’s nephew, Fancy Ng’andwe, for most of her life.
In an interview, Fancy told Kalemba that even though her aunt brings joy to most people online, she does not even understand her fame because of her condition.
Zemambwe has Down syndrome, though her condition was never formally diagnosed, Fancy who happens to be a doctor took interest in learning about it.
“She doesn’t know she’s famous,” Fancy told Kalemba.
“We have tried to explain it to her, but she doesn’t quite get it. She just laughs at her own videos. To her, they are funny. Nothing more.”
Zemambwe’s path to internet fame was not intentional. It all began in 2023 with a video Fancy made for his mother.
He was gifting her a money bouquet as a simple gesture of appreciation and Zemambwe happened to appear in the background.
“I was using TikTok just to edit the video because I didn’t have any proper editing apps,” Fancy explained.
“The plan was to post it privately and then share it on WhatsApp. But I forgot to change the settings and in the morning, people started calling me that my video had gone viral.”
By morning, the video was trending, not only for the bouquet, but for Zemambwe’s lively presence in the background as viewers were charmed by her humour and candid reactions.
Fancy decided to post more clips. Some were as ordinary as her buying bread or reacting to a gift. Others showed her dancing, talking to family or performing her favourite chores which happen to be sweeping, washing dishes, and knitting doormats.
But it was her fascination with bread and tea that won hearts.
Zemambwe’s videos, often showing her reacting with glee to a loaf of bread, dancing in the living room or sipping tea with absolute contentment have captured the attention of thousands.
‘Lobe’ is Zemambwe’s favourite line and she is the last born in her family.
However, amidst all the joy she brings to most households, Zemambwe’s sudden fame has not been without its complexities. Some members of the extended family have been uncomfortable with her visibility online, particularly those who were distant or unsupportive during her early years.
“It’s been surprising. The same people who didn’t show much concern for her before are the ones who now criticise me for posting about her. But to me, the videos are not about exposure, they are about raising awareness,” he said.
Indeed, many viewers have written to Fancy thanking him for shedding light on life with Down syndrome, showing not just the challenges, but the joy, humour and humanity.
“Some people say, ‘I didn’t know someone with Down syndrome could be this expressive,’ this is full of life. It changes the way people think,” stated Fancy.
“She’s been with us since she was a little girl. She came with my grandmother and stayed. In her eyes, I’m still a child, she can’t take me seriously,” he explained.
Though filled with lighthearted moments, caring for someone with Down syndrome is far from easy. For Fancy, the biggest challenge has been access to health services, particularly for Zemambwe’s dental needs and the long, patient work of teaching life skills.
“It’s been decades of teaching hygiene, behaviour, how to present herself as a lady. You do it with love, but it’s constant,” he added.
Despite the challenges, he speaks of her with deep affection.
“It’s not a curse. It’s a blessing. Children like Zemambwe feel love deeply. But they also feel hurt more intensely. That’s something people don’t always understand,” he said.
“If someone mocks her and they are adults, I tell them off. If it’s a child, I take time to teach them. But mostly, the internet has been good to her.”
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, July 9, 2025
