tawandamusarurwa
Tanyaradzwa Rusike
The mother of slain four-year-old Princess Shoko, Ms Nomsa Sibanda, is a troubled soul.
She is on a quest for closure and yet to come to terms with how her sister Lister Sibanda and her husband John Zvivi allegedly killed Princess in cold blood, before fleeing to South Africa.
In a macabre story that has left many Zimbabweans shell-shocked — Lister and her husband Zvivi allegedly killed Princess, their niece, and stashed the remains in a 25kg sack.
The two then allegedly dumped her body in a stream along the Harare-Bulawayo Road, between Kuwadzana Extension and Glaudina in Harare.
They are also accused of injuring the deceased minor’s six-year-old sister, Susan.
After committing the crimes, the couple fled to the neighbouring country, where they have since been apprehended and surrendered to police.
Tough upbringing
Growing up in an orphanage with her three siblings, Nomsa said she had a close relationship with her sister Lister.
“I was born in a family of six and I don’t know my parents up to now. Because there was no one to take care of us, three of my siblings and I were sent to an orphanage in Waterfalls.
“We had sound relations as we were a family,” she told The Sunday Mail.
The mother of the slain daughter left the orphanage when she was 18.
Relocation
Having found a job in South Africa, Nomsa said she had to leave her children in the custody of Lister and her husband.
“Initially, I went to South Africa with my then husband, but things did not go well and we separated. I came back home to collect some money and got a job again in South Africa. I had to go back and work for my kids since I am a single mother,” she said.
“I stayed for some time with the kids at my sister’s place for them to easily adapt before leaving and during that time, there were no signs of hatred or ill-treatment of my kids.
“I thought they were safe and I had to go.”
Red flags
Ms Sibanda stayed in Pretoria for less than one month where she worked as a house helper. She then started receiving disturbing messages from Lister that her four-year daughter was being attacked by evil spirits.
“My sister started calling, saying that my daughter was being attacked because she insulted three old ladies and they did not manage to apologise to one of them. They did that for close to a week, telling me that the old lady was threatening to kill my daughter.
“I questioned them over the phone why someone would want to kill a four-year old, but they were not giving me a concrete explanation,” she explained, with tears in her eyes.
The 26-year-old left South Africa in early August to take her children as the threats were escalating.
“I felt everything was not fine because of the kind of messages I was receiving from my sister and her husband.
“They threatened to leave my kids along Beatrice Road if I failed to come,” she said.
Devastation
On her way to Zimbabwe, Ms Sibanda received a shocker from her sister’s husband that her four-year-old was no more and had been buried in Masvingo.
“I had planned to take Princess with me to South Africa and leave Susan in the custody of her father. I was confident enough that I was going to take my kids in good condition but, unfortunately, they killed Princess,” she cried.
Upon arriving, she went to her sister’s place so that they could accompany her to where they had buried her, but they refused.
“They were shocked to see me.
“I pleaded with them to accompany me to Masvingo, but they refused, saying that I was ungrateful,” she said.
Ms Sibanda reported the case to the police and realised the couple had escaped to South Africa, where they were later arrested.
Reports say that the couple subjected the two minors to abuse, brutalising them with electrical cables and a walking stick.
The alleged killer couple is expected to attend the last court session on August 30 before extradition to Zimbabwe.
Princess’ body was found on August 2 wrapped in a black paper and sack in a stream along the Harare-Bulawayo road, between Kuwadzana extension and Glaudina.
The minor is expected to be buried once a post mortem is done.
Good Hope Funeral Service is assisting with the funeral arrangements.
Online Reporter