South African actress Sophie Ndaba mourns for her niece Cordelia Masalethulini who was murdered by her boyfriend in Zimbabwe horror.
This after her niece was brutally killed, allegedly by her boyfriend during a violent lovers’ argument in Zimbabwe earlier this month.
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Cordelia Masalethulini (45), a television broadcaster, writer and actress, was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend and live-in lover, Fungai Quinton Tawengwa (46), in Harare on 4 January.
Tawengwa is reportedly a prominent member of the ruling Zanu PF in Zimbabwe.
A distraught Ndaba confirmed the tragic loss, saying Masalethulini was her sister’s daughter. The tragedy comes just two months after the death of Ndaba’s sister, compounding the family’s grief.
“Yes, I can confirm that she’s my niece. She was my sister’s daughter. My sister died two months ago, so you can imagine it’s not easy,” Ndaba said.
Ndaba, who was born in Zimbabwe, said the family was still struggling to come to terms with the killing and remained in the dark about the exact circumstances surrounding Masalethulini’s death.
“Death is not easy. I don’t know what happened except what we’ve read in media reports in Zimbabwe.
“As a family, we’re still waiting for the authorities to officially inform us about what actually happened to her,” she said.
She added that once the family receives a full report from authorities, they will issue a comprehensive media statement.
Ndaba said she last saw her niece in 2019, when Masalethulini visited her in South Africa.
“She came to my house in 2019 and we spent quality time together, catching up on many things.”
“We’ll definitely miss her, everything about her, especially because she left us when we least expected it,” she said.
“She wasn’t sick. It’s very painful when someone’s life is cut short in such a violent way.”
Ndaba said she plans to travel to Zimbabwe to pay her last respects once funeral arrangements have been finalised.
According to Zimbabwean media reports, the tragic events unfolded on January 4 when Masalethulini and Tawengwa allegedly spent the day drinking beer together at Helensvale Shopping Centre in Borrowdale, Harare.
Later that evening, heavy rain reportedly forced the pair to seek shelter at a property along Whisper Road in Borrowdale until about 10pm.
It’s alleged that later that night, the couple had a misunderstanding, during which Masalethulini reportedly refused to go home with Tawengwa.
After the rain subsided, the two allegedly walked towards Harare-Domboshava Road.
Masalethulini’s half-naked body was discovered the following day lying in a pool of blood.
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Tawengwa, who is the prime suspect in the murder, appeared before Harare Magistrate Ruth Moyo and was remanded in custody until 22 January.
The matter is expected to return to court as investigations continue.
