Latwell Nyangu
A ZIMBABWEAN couple, who skipped the border in 2023 after allegedly murdering a four-year-old girl, will know if they will avoid extradition today when a South Afriocan court hands down the judgment on the case.
John Zvivi and Lister Sibanda, who are on the run for allegedly killing the daughter of Lister’s sister, were arrested in Bram Fischerbille, Johannesburg.
The pair was arrested with the assistance of businessman, Moreboys Munetsi, after a tip-off.
Following their arrest, they engaged a lawyer to avoid extradition to Zimbabwe where they are expected to face a murder charge.
Since then, the case has been before the courts in South Africa and their children were taken into custody by Social Welfare.
Today, a Randburg magistrate is expected to deliver the judgment.
“Tomorrow, September19, a Randburg magistrate is going to give a judgment regarding the extradition request by the Zimbabwean Government for John Zvivi and Lister Sibanda.
“The two have been fighting the extradition request for the past 14 months.
“They don’t want to return to Zimbabwe where there is a warrant of arrest for both of them and the couple are facing charges of murder for killing baby Princess.
“It is a very important day for the justice of the innocent child and if the court rules in the favour of the State this will open a day for them to be extradited to Zimbabwe.
“In the event that the judgment is in their favour, they will be released immediately from prison.”
Allegations are that the couple committed the offence in Zvivi homestead, Vantage Area, in Zvimba.
After allegedly killing the child, they stashed her body in a sack before dumping it in a river.
They fled the country.
It is alleged that Princess was beaten to death.
The deceased’s mother, Nomsa, left her two daughters in the couple’s custody while she worked as a maid in South Africa.
The couple allegedly subjected the two children to extreme levels of abuse, brutalising them with electrical cables and a walking stick.