The bodies of Zimbabwean mother Nothabo Zandile Tshuma and her two daughters have arrived in Harare ahead of their burial in Bulawayo, following a tragic incident that shocked both Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom.
The remains of the 42-year-old mother and her daughters, 15-year-old Natalie and five-year-old Nala, arrived in Harare on Monday morning. They will be taken to the family’s home in Bulawayo before their burial on Tuesday.
The three were found dead at their home in Great Denham, Bedfordshire, on July 3. Post-mortem examinations conducted by UK authorities found that all three died from blunt force trauma.
Police allege that the murders were committed by Nothabo’s husband and the children’s father, Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, 45, who was later arrested in Kensington, Johannesburg, after an international manhunt.
He remains in custody in South Africa after withdrawing his bail application at the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court, where he is facing charges of possessing an unlicensed firearm and ammunition.
The United Kingdom is seeking his extradition so he can face three counts of murder.
Family spokesperson Leon Leroy Khumalo said that despite delays in repatriating the bodies, funeral arrangements will continue as planned. He confirmed that the bodies will lie in state at a funeral parlour before being taken to the family home in Bulawayo ahead of Tuesday’s burial.
