Couple Extradited to Face Charges for Alleged Murder of Niece in Zimbabwe

John Zvivi and Alista Sibanda have been extradited from South Africa to Zimbabwe for allegedly murdering their four-year-old niece, Princess Shoko. The couple is accused of child abuse leading to her death in July 2023. They were arrested after attempting to conceal her body and fled the country. They are currently in custody, awaiting further court proceedings.

A married couple, John Zvivi (36) and Alista Sibanda (35), has been extradited from South Africa to Zimbabwe to face charges related to the alleged murder of their four-year-old niece, Princess Shoko, in 2023. After their arrest in South Africa, the couple was returned to Zimbabwe on March 27, 2025, and made their first court appearance on April 11, 2025, before Harare Magistrate Isheunesu Matova, who remanded them in custody and advised them to seek bail through the High Court.

The unfortunate incident began in April 2023 when Princess and her six-year-old sister, Susan Mandaza, were under the care of their aunt, Alista, and her husband, John. Their mother, Nomsa Sibanda, who is Alista’s sister, had left them with the couple while she returned to South Africa. Allegations arose that the couple had subjected the children to physical abuse and had deprived them of food.

Tragically, Princess Shoko was reported to have died from injuries inflicted by the couple on July 23, 2023. In an attempt to conceal their crime, they allegedly concealed her body in a sack and discarded it in a stream in Kuwadzana Extension. Although they informed Nomsa of her daughter’s death, they failed to provide a credible account.

Nomsa returned to Zimbabwe and filed a missing person’s report on August 1, 2023. The following day, Princess’s body was discovered in the stream, leading to an identification and subsequent investigation. The remains were transported to Parirenyatwa Hospital for examination, but the pathologist’s report remained inconclusive as toxicology results were pending. Following the incident, the couple fled to South Africa but were arrested after the case received extensive media coverage, prompting their extradition to face justice.

In summary, John Zvivi and Alista Sibanda are facing serious allegations regarding the murder of their niece, Princess Shoko. Circumstances surrounding her death highlight severe child abuse, leading to her tragic demise. Their arrest and extradition from South Africa underscore the gravity of the charges against them, as the legal process now unfolds in Zimbabwe, with further hearings scheduled in the case.

Original Source: www.newzimbabwe.com