Online Reporter
Mthokozisi Ncube in BULAWAYO
THE mother of slain business executive Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, who died together with her two children at their home in England has, for the first time, spoken about the pain she been enduring since their death.
Police in the UK have named Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, 45, as the suspect in the murder of the trio.
Ndodana, also known as Mark, was Zandile’s husband and the father of the two kids Natalie, 15, and Nala, 5, who were also killed. The murder took place at the family’s £1.3 million home in Great Denham, Bedfordshire, UK. Tshuma was arrested in South Africa last Friday and has since appeared in court and will return to court next week.
The couple is reported to have been going through a divorce.
Zandile’s mother, Velile Khumalo, 76, has for the first time spoken about her daughter’s murder.
“If I had one more chance to talk to her, I would advise her to leave everything and come home,” she told B-Metro in an exclusive.
“I can only accept what God has allowed to happen. My only wish now is that my daughter and grandchildren get buried here in Zimbabwe at Luveve Cemetery. “Makhu (Zandile) had the two sweetest daughters ever, my grandchildren. They are all gone, just like that.
“My other daughter has boys. All the girls are now gone.”
Then, Velile broke down.
She is a retired teacher who has shaped thousands of lives through decades of primary school teaching. Her other daughter, Sibonginkosi Gugulethu Mungoni (48), and uncle Leon Leroy Khumalo (61) had to step in.
They revealed that Velile had last seen her granddaughters when Nala was still an infant.
She had been looking forward to seeing them again in December when Zandile and her daughters were expected to visit Zimbabwe.
Leon said the family’s grief has been compounded by insensitive online speculation regarding the tragedy.
He said they have approached the police in Bulawayo to explore ways the family could be assisted in terms of not being exposed to the vile speculation on social media.
“As a family, we would like to appeal to all those online people who are making up stories about the tragedy to let us grieve in peace.
“We also appeal to journalists to stop coming here canvassing for stories as we have nothing to say,” he said.
Leon described Zandile as a sweet, warm, loving mother who was devoted to her family.
Sibonginkosi said her sister was the darling of the family.
“She was my mum’s handbag and we spoke often. We are utterly devastated.
“Words can never express the sorrow in the family right now.
“We just request that people let us grieve in peace.
“As a family, we are now keeping away from social media as we have been encountering very distressing and untrue statements made by faceless people,” she said.
The family said burial arrangements would be announced in due course.
Post-mortem examinations revealed that Zandile, 42, and her daughters died from blunt force trauma.
Police claim Ndodana fled UK on July 5, boarding a flight from London Heathrow to Johannesburg, via Dubai, using his British passport.
The victims’ bodies were found the following day after concerned neighbours alerted authorities.
He was in possession of a gun at the time of his arrest.
