The families of slain United Kingdom-based Zimbabwean mother Nothabo Zandile Khumalo and her husband, Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, are embroiled in a dispute over funeral arrangements following the killings that shocked Zimbabwe and the UK earlier this month.
According to NewsHawks, family sources said the Khumalo family rejected a request by representatives of the Tshuma family to have funeral proceedings coordinated from their side, insisting they would take charge of arrangements for Nothabo and her two daughters, Natalie and Nala.
According to a Khumalo family member, a delegation from the Tshuma family visited the Khumalo home in Gwabalanda, Bulawayo, last weekend to discuss the tragedy and possible funeral and burial arrangements.
However, the Khumalo family said it declined the proposal, citing a strained relationship between the two families that predated the killings and dissatisfaction with how the Tshuma family had responded after the deaths.
“They came last weekend and there was a brief meeting out of respect or Ubuntu, but then we firmly yet politely them to go away because we were not happy with what has been happening; our relationship was already broken down and bad, now the murders and the way they handled the whole situation made things worse,” the family member said.
The Khumalo family also rejected attempts to move the funeral proceedings to Waterford in Bulawayo, where Tshuma’s mother lives.
Nothabo’s parents, Livingstone and Velile Khumalo, are coordinating arrangements from their home in Gwabalanda.
Despite the disagreement, the burial is not expected to take place soon as legal proceedings involving Tshuma are still underway in South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Tshuma, 45, is accused of killing Nothabo, 42, and their daughters, Natalie, 15, and Nala, five, at their home in Great Denham, Bedfordshire, on July 3 before fleeing the UK.
He travelled to South Africa, where he was arrested on July 10. He is facing charges of illegal possession of an unlicensed firearm as well as extradition proceedings to return him to the UK, where he is expected to face three murder charges.
He is scheduled to appear again before the Johannesburg Magistrates’ Court on July 22.
Meanwhile, South African police say investigations are continuing into the source of the unlicensed firearm allegedly found in Tshuma’s possession.
South African Police Service spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said investigators were trying to identify the individuals who sold the firearm to Tshuma.
“We are still investigating who sold the gun to him, while the pistol is still undergoing forensic ballistic tests to determine whether it is linked to any other crimes. He is charged with illegal possession of a firearm, but investigations are continuing,” Mathe said.
South African investigators have said Tshuma allegedly bought an unlicensed 9mm pistol in Alexandra township, Johannesburg. Authorities say the weapon, which contained two rounds of ammunition, is also being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.
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