Long list of Zimbabwean men who brutally killed women in United Kingdom and how they murdered them

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LONDON, UK – The recent tragic deaths of Nothabo Zandile Tshuma and her two young daughters, Natalie and Nala, in their English home have once again cast a stark and painful spotlight on a disturbing pattern: the brutal murders of Zimbabwean women in the United Kingdom, often at the hands of their partners or former partners. This latest incident, which saw Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, Nothabo’s husband, arrested in South Africa after fleeing the UK, underscores a deeply troubling trend of domestic violence culminating in femicide within the Zimbabwean diaspora.

In just the past decade, a significant number of Zimbabwean women have lost their lives to violence in the UK. While many of the perpetrators have been convicted and are now serving lengthy prison sentences, including life imprisonment, the frequency and brutality of these crimes reveal a persistent and harrowing issue that demands urgent attention. The cases, often marked by jealousy, control, and a history of abuse, paint a grim picture of lives cut short and families shattered.

The Tragic Case of Nothabo Zandile Tshuma and Her Daughters

The discovery of Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, 42, and her daughters, Natalie, 15, and Nala, 5, dead in their Bedfordshire home in July 2026 sent ripples of grief and disbelief through communities both in the UK and Zimbabwe. At the time of her death, Nothabo was reportedly in the process of divorcing her husband, Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma, also known as Mark. British police quickly identified Ndodana as the prime suspect. He was later apprehended in Kensington, Johannesburg, South Africa, on 10th July 2026, after an international manhunt. Reports indicated that he had purchased an unlicensed firearm, adding another layer of complexity to the already tragic narrative.

This devastating event serves as a stark reminder of the dangers women face when attempting to leave abusive relationships, a period often identified as the most perilous. The loss of Nothabo and her young children highlights the extreme consequences of unchecked domestic violence.

A Decade of Loss: Other Victims and Their Stories

The Tshuma family tragedy is not an isolated incident. An examination of cases over the last ten years reveals a chilling roster of Zimbabwean women whose lives were violently ended. These stories, each unique in their details but tragically similar in their outcome, collectively paint a picture of a community grappling with an insidious problem.

Perseverance Ncube: A Mother’s Bravery and a Brutal End

Perseverance Ncube, a 35-year-old mother of two, was brutally murdered by her ex-partner, Obert Moyo, on 10th November 2023, in Little Hulton, Salford, Greater Manchester. Moyo, 45, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 27 years in April 2024. The court heard how Moyo had stalked Ncube for months after she ended their relationship. On the night of the murder, he broke into her home and attacked her in her bedroom. Her children, aged just 10 and 12, bravely intervened, dragging Moyo off their mother. However, Moyo pursued Ncube into the street, where he fatally stabbed her in front of her terrified children.

Detective Chief Inspector Gina Brennand, commenting on the case, stated, “Moyo is a dangerous and violent man and would not accept his relationship with Percy was over. He broke into her home while she and her children, aged just 10 and 12 at the time, slept and attacked Percy in her bedroom. Her children rushed to their mum’s aid and bravely dragged Moyo off her. Moyo chased after Percy into the street and showed no mercy as he stabbed her in front of her children.” The family of Perseverance Ncube, known as Percy to her loved ones, paid tribute to her as a “loving and devoted mother who lived for her children, family, and friends.” They described her as a “real angel” and highlighted that she was “cruelly taken from us due to domestic violence.”

Leigh-Anne Mahachi: Ambushed Outside Her Home

On 12th April 2016, 22-year-old bank worker Leigh-Anne Mahachi was stabbed to death outside her home on Spotswood Close in Gleadless Valley, Sheffield. Her ex-boyfriend, Tapiwa Douglas Furusa, 37, pleaded guilty to her murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 26 years. The attack occurred as Mahachi was leaving for work, with her mother tragically witnessing the fatal stabbing. Furusa, a mortgage broker and former business partner of Mahachi, later handed himself in to the police in Manchester.

Mirriam Nyazema: A Soldier’s Rage

Mirriam Nyazema, 35, a nurse, was found outside her home in Shawclough Way, Rochdale, Greater Manchester, on 28th July 2015, following reports of a disturbance. She died in hospital from seven stab wounds to her head and upper body. Josphat Mutekedza, 36, a soldier in the British army, was convicted of her murder and ordered to serve a minimum of 26 years. Mutekedza had stabbed his former girlfriend to death after she ended their relationship and began dating a new partner. The prosecution stated that Mutekedza confronted Mirriam and her new boyfriend as they returned home, stabbing her in the face, head, chest, and back.

Veronica Chinyanga: A Plea Unheard

Veronica Chinyanga, 42, begged for her life on 9th June 2023, as her husband, Kasikai Chinyanga, 47, stabbed and killed her in Broxburn, West Lothian, Scotland. The mother had previously reported him to the police for abuse and had predicted he might not forgive her. Veronica was repeatedly struck with a pronged garden tool before being fatally stabbed in the stomach with a knife. Jailing him for life, Lord Mulholland described the killing as “cowardly, savage and brutal.” The couple had moved to Scotland from Zimbabwe in 2008 and had a teenage son together.

Barbara Nomakhosi Mpala: A Tragic End for Both

On 6th September 2024, the body of Barbara Nomakhosi Mpala, 35, a care worker, was discovered at an address in Bury, Greater Manchester. Her husband, Molifi Elvis Mosia, 41, was identified as a suspect. Tragically, Mosia was killed later the same day after walking onto the M65 motorway, where he was hit by three cars, in what appeared to be a suicide following the murder.

Zanele Sibanda: Jealousy and Control

Zanele Sibanda, 28, a care worker, was stabbed to death in the early hours of 27th August 2024, in Gloucester. Tanaka Zivania, 32, pleaded guilty to her murder and possession of a bladed article, receiving a life sentence. Prosecutors established that the attack stemmed from unfounded, jealous suspicions of infidelity. Zivania had a history of controlling and aggressive behaviour. A friend recalled that Zanele “always had a smile on her face” just hours before her death.

Linda Nomagugu Vilika: Baseless Suspicions

Linda Nomagugu Vilika, 41, was stabbed to death on 19th August 2019, in her home in Great Saling, Essex. Her husband, Wilfred Jacob, was found guilty of her murder in January 2021 and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum of 18 years. Prosecutors revealed that Jacob was a “jealous and controlling” husband who harboured baseless suspicions that she was having an affair. When officers arrived, they found Vilika slumped against a sofa, her face and body covered with a duvet. The murder weapon, a 20cm carving knife, was found at the scene with a bent blade that had snapped from the handle. Vilika had been stabbed twice in the back.

Emily Munemo: A Premeditated Act

Emily Munemo, 41, was murdered on 19th August 2015, at a property in Collingwood Road, Hillingdon. Gibson Mazikana, 41, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 27 years for the crime. On the day of the attack, Mazikana was due to be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court for assaulting a police officer who had responded to a domestic incident at the family home. Detectives investigating the murder also discovered that Mazikana had attempted to arrange for Munemo to be killed, but an associate had refused to help him, indicating a chilling level of premeditation.

Madina Landsberg: Killed While on Bail

Madina Landsberg, 31, was found dead on 10th June 2014, in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Her husband, Dexter Landsberg, 34, was given a life sentence for her murder. Tragically, Madina was killed while Dexter was out on bail for assaulting her, highlighting systemic failures in protecting victims of domestic abuse.

Esnath Mundicha: The End of a Relationship

Esnath Mundicha, 22, was murdered in November 2004 in Bedford. Her ex-boyfriend, Taonezvi Mashozhera, 25, a failed asylum seeker, stabbed her with two knives after she ended their relationship. He was subsequently sentenced to life imprisonment.

The Broader Context: Femicide in the UK

The cases of these Zimbabwean women are part of a larger, deeply concerning issue of femicide in the UK. Organisations such as the Femicide Census and Counting Dead Women tirelessly work to document every woman killed by a man. The Guardian newspaper, drawing on their work, noted that in recent years, a woman has been killed by a man every three days on average in the UK. In 2023 alone, 80 women died at the hands of men. Among these 80 women were three Zimbabweans, a mother-of-three from Botswana, and a Namibian woman, underscoring the disproportionate impact on women from diaspora communities.

These statistics are not mere numbers; they represent lives brutally cut short, families torn apart, and communities left to grapple with profound grief and unanswered questions. The patterns observed in these cases—stalking, controlling behaviour, jealousy, and a history of domestic abuse—are tragically common threads in femicide cases globally.

A Call for Action and Awareness

The stories of Nothabo Zandile Tshuma, Perseverance Ncube, Leigh-Anne Mahachi, and many others serve as a powerful and painful reminder of the urgent need to address domestic violence and femicide. It is imperative that support systems are strengthened, awareness campaigns are amplified, and legal frameworks are rigorously applied to protect vulnerable individuals. The Zimbabwean community in the UK, like all communities, must confront this issue head-on, fostering environments where women feel safe to report abuse and seek help without fear of further violence.

These women, who sought better lives in the UK, instead met tragic ends. Their memories demand not just remembrance, but a collective commitment to ensuring that such atrocities cease, and that every woman can live free from violence.