Bodies of Bulawayo Mother and Two Daughters Delayed Again After Missed Connection in Ethiopia 

By Desire Tshuma 

Bulawayo – The repatriation of the bodies of Nothabo Zandile Khumalo and her two daughters, 15-year-old Natalie and 5-year-old Nala, has been delayed for a second time after they missed a connecting flight in Addis Ababa.

 

The three were allegedly murdered a month ago in the UK by Khumalo’s husband, Ndodana Mkhanyisi Tshuma. Their remains were scheduled to arrive in Bulawayo yesterday afternoon for burial set for Monday or Tuesday.

 

According to family sources, the Ethiopian Airlines flight carrying the bodies failed to land at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa yesterday due to bad weather. The aircraft was diverted to Djibouti.

 

By the time the flight returned to Addis Ababa from Djibouti, the connecting Ethiopian Airlines service to Bulawayo had already departed.

 

Ethiopian Airlines operates the Addis Ababa to Bulawayo route via Ndola in Zambia. The flight from Bole International Airport to Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola takes about six hours and 35 minutes. The onward leg from Ndola to Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo takes approximately one hour and 40 minutes.

 

The family had been expecting the bodies to arrive in their hometown of Bulawayo yesterday. New arrival dates have not yet been confirmed.

 

The case has drawn wide attention in Zimbabwe and in the diaspora following the deaths of Khumalo, Natalie and Nala. Tshuma faces charges in the UK in connection with the deaths.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and family representatives are said to be working with Ethiopian Airlines to secure the next available flight to Bulawayo.