Relatives, friends, and community members gathered Tuesday in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe's second-largest city, for the funeral of Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and her daughters, 15-year-old Natalie and 5-year-old Nala. The three were discovered dead at their home near Bedford, north of London, on July 7 after relatives reported being unable to reach the family. British police stated that an inquest found all three died from head injuries.
Their husband and father, Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, 45, who is of Zimbabwean origin, was arrested in Johannesburg last month. The arrest followed a joint operation involving Interpol and South African police. He faces murder charges in the UK and is currently in South African custody. South African authorities found him in possession of an unlicensed firearm, which they believe he intended to use for self-harm. South African courts are expected to consider a request for his extradition to the UK.
During the funeral service, family spokesperson Theophilus Khumalo described the deaths as creating "unspeakable grief" and "an unbearably painful journey." He spoke of the mother's dreams for her daughters to grow into "confident, educated and God-loving young women," calling the girls "God’s little flowers."