It was described as a result of a taxonomic split in the Hildebrandt's horseshoe bat (R. hildebrandtii).

The holotype—an adult female—was collected in October 2000 in the Gokwe region of Zimbabwe.

Its species name "smithersi" was chosen to honor Reay Henry Noble Smithers, former Director of the National Museums of Zimbabwe.

[2] This species can be differentiated from sympatric members of its genus by its high echolocation frequencies, small cranium, and wide nose-leaf.

[2] This species is known from one individual in Zimbabwe and 19 sites in South Africa.