Family Seeks to Bring Zandile Tshuma and Daughters Home for Burial in Zimbabwe

By Southerton Business Times | Harare

The family of Zandile Tshuma and her two young daughters says its greatest wish is to lay the trio to rest in Zimbabwe as they await the completion of legal processes in the United Kingdom before the bodies can be released for repatriation. The deaths of Zandile and her daughters have sent shockwaves through Zimbabwean communities at home and abroad, with relatives now focused on bringing their loved ones home for burial.

Speaking to B-Metro, Zandile's uncle, Leon Leroy Khumalo, said the family is unable to finalise funeral arrangements until UK authorities complete the necessary legal and administrative procedures.

"At the moment I cannot give you a full view of what is going to happen since the bodies of our loved ones are still in the UK," he said.

He explained that the family would only be in a position to make firm funeral plans once they receive guidance from the UK coroner and the authorities handling the case.

"Once we get further information, we will know whether they will be released early to us so that we can start working on the funeral proceedings," Khumalo said.

The family has already begun making preliminary arrangements for the eventual funeral, including seeking quotations from funeral service providers in both Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom. However, Khumalo said everything depends on when the coroner authorises the release of the bodies.

"We don't know exactly when the bodies will be released by the coroner and when they will be handed over to the funeral parlour to start preparing the repatriation of the three bodies, if that is going to happen," he said.

Under UK law, the release of bodies in suspected homicide cases is subject to coronial and criminal justice procedures, which must be completed before repatriation can take place.

According to Khumalo, Zandile's parents hope their daughter and granddaughters will be buried in Zimbabwe, saying it would help the family begin the difficult process of healing.

"The parents are really keen that the remains of their loved ones lie in this country so that they can have closure of this whole episode," he said.

The family said it would announce funeral arrangements once the repatriation process has been completed.

Khumalo also expressed gratitude to Zimbabweans both locally and abroad who have offered messages of sympathy, prayers and practical support since the tragedy. He said the outpouring of compassion has helped sustain the family through one of the most difficult periods of their lives. As of 18 July 2026, no burial date had been confirmed, with the family's immediate priority remaining the return of Zandile and her daughters to Zimbabwe.

The deaths remain the subject of criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom, where Zandile's husband, Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, has been accused in connection with the killings. He was arrested in South Africa and remains in custody while extradition proceedings continue. The allegations against him have not yet been tested in court, and he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Zandile Tshuma