Online Reporter
. . . Case just one of troubling high-profile cases among Zim couples in the Diaspora
WHERE is Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma?
That is the million-dollar question right now as tributes are being paid to his wife, and two daughters, who were killed at their family home in England.
British police believe Tshuma, who also goes by the name Mark, is the prime suspect in the murder of his family.
He fled the UK last Saturday, on a flight which British police claim was meant to take him back home to Zimbabwe.
But he is nowhere to be seen.
Police national spokesman Commissioner Paul Nyathi said they are unable to confirm if Tshuma entered the country but they were “ready to arrest” him if he was found and there were on alert at border points.
“We are yet to receive an Interpol red notice, we are still to get that communication,” Commissioner Nyathi said.
“Nonetheless, we are already on alert and closely monitoring the situation and ready to arrest him.
“Tshuma should give himself up to the police if he is in Zimbabwe.
“Please surrender yourself to the police so that the due process of the law can take its course based on the allegations emanating from the UK.”
Tributes have been paid to his wife Nothabo Zandile Tshuma and her daughters Natalie, 15, and Nala, five.
They have been described as much-loved members of their Bedford community who brought joy to those around them.
“We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has reached out with prayers, messages of comfort, and support.
“Your kindness and compassion have brought great strength to our family,” the family said in a statement.
“The Khumalo family sincerely appreciates the continued love, prayers and support shown by family, friends and the wider community.”
Officers believe the 45-year-old suspect flew from London Heathrow to Zimbabwe on Saturday.
Tshuma owns and runs a property business called Nexus Trove Holdings from his address in Great Denham, according to Companies House.
Detective Inspector Lee Martin yesterday appealed to Tshuma to “do the right thing” and give himself up.
“Three innocent people have lost their lives in the worst possible circumstances, leaving your relatives and friends devastated,” he said.
“We are actively working with national and intentional agencies to pursue every available line of inquiry to track you down – and we will find you.”
The family’s home in Great Denham is located on the western edge of Bedford.
It was bought for nearly £1.3m in May 2024, according to Rightmove, and has a swimming pool and four bedrooms.
The couple are said to have been going through a divorce and the value of the property was recently evaluated.
The case is just the latest high-profile murder or attempted murder case involving Zimbabwean couples in the Diaspora.
In one of the cases, a man stabbed his wife more than 30 times in the United States after a domestic dispute.
He then kidnapped their six-year-old child.
Both the child and mother survived the ordeal.
KASIKAYI CHINYANGA, SCOTTLAND
Kasikayi Chinyanga, an NHS worker who murdered his wife just weeks after an earlier domestic abuse case collapsed, is now serving an 18-year jail term.
Chinyanga, 47, killed Veronica Chinyanga, as she begged for her life in the back garden of their home in Broxburn, West Lothian, on June 9, last year.
The 42-year-old mother had predicted Chinyanga may not forgive her for previously reporting him to police.
Veronica was repeatedly struck with a pronged garden tool – in front of neighbours – before being stabbed in the stomach with a knife.
Jailing him for life, Lord Mulholland said the killing had been “cowardly, savage and brutal”.
The couple had moved to Scotland from Zimbabwe in 2008.
They had a teenage son together and Veronica’s 20-year-old daughter also lived with them.
Chinyanga worked in finance for the NHS. He was training to be an accountant at the time.
His wife was involved in a project to help international health workers adapt to a new country.
Prosecutor Wojciech Jajdelski told how there had been “a history of domestic incidents” between the couple.
He added: “Despite some being reported, criminal proceedings were not concluded due to an apparent reluctance on the part of Veronica Chinyanga to attend court.
“In particular, her second failure to attend as a witness in a summary trial on 27 May 2024 – two weeks before (the murder) – lead to discontinuation of the case.”
MUNYARADZI CHITURUMANI, USA
Munyaradzi Chiturumani, 36, is facing charges of allegedly stabbing his wife approximately 30 times before abducting their six-year-old child in St. Louis.
St. Louis County prosecutors have charged Chiturumani with first-degree domestic assault, armed criminal action, and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child creating a substantial risk.
He is being held on a US$500,000 cash-only bond with no 10% option.
According to police, neighbours called 911 after hearing Chiturumani’s wife screaming from the balcony of their home that she was going to die.
When officers arrived, they found the woman suffering from approximately 30 stab wounds.
Investigators said the victim told officers that Chiturumani had threatened to kill their six-year-old child before leaving the scene with the child.
Police recovered two bloodstained knives from inside the home.
A short time later, investigators located Chiturumani’s abandoned 2017 Ford Edge in Frontenac, Missouri, while the six-year-old child was found safe later that day in St. Louis City.
Authorities then tracked Chiturumani to a motel in Caseyville, Illinois, where he was taken into custody.
Police believe he had attempted to take his own life before officers arrived.
The child’s mother was rushed to hospital, where she was reported to be in stable condition.
