By a Correspondent
Zandile Nothabo Khumalo and her two daughters, Natalie and Nala, were laid to rest together at Old Luveve Cemetery in Bulawayo on Tuesday amid disappointment from the Khumalo family, who say they did not receive an apology or condolence visit from relatives of Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma following the tragedy.
The three were buried side by side at Old Luveve Cemetery after a funeral service held at Brethren in Christ Church in New Lobengula, attended by family members, friends and mourners from across the community.
Speaking during the service, family representative Dr Ntsika Dakamela said the Khumalo family was hurt that Tshuma’s relatives had not approached them since the deaths to offer condolences or express regret.
“The Tshuma family has not come to apologise to us,” said Dr Dakamela.
He said the family had expected a traditional gesture of sympathy from Tshuma’s relatives in line with cultural norms.
“They were supposed to come to the gate, kneel down and say they were sorry because what happened was not of their doing,” he said.
Dr Dakamela said the family felt it was important to clarify the matter publicly to avoid speculation over whether any engagement had taken place between the two families.
“We don’t want people to speculate. We expected them to come, but they did not. They took it lightly,” he said.
The burial brought to a close an emotional farewell for Zandile, 42, Natalie, 15, and Nala, five, whose deaths in Great Denham, Bedfordshire, in the United Kingdom last month shocked communities both in Zimbabwe and abroad.
Meanwhile, Zandile’s husband and the father of the two girls, Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, remains in custody in South Africa. Authorities in the United Kingdom have authorised three counts of murder against him and are seeking his extradition to face trial.
