Tanaka Zivanai, 32, was sentenced to life in pr!son with a minimum of 20 years and 10 months’ !mpr!sonment at Bristol Crown Court on Thursday.
The sentencing brought some closure to the family of Zanele Sibanda, 28, who was brutally murd3red by Zivanai in a j3alous rage.
Speaking outside court, Nonkanyiso Tshuma, Ms Sibanda’s sister, expressed her sorrow and frustration.
“A two-year-old and a nine-year-old have to live today without their mother because of another, it’s so heartbreaking,” she said. “Zivanai isn’t even showing any signs of remorse. It’s a hard pill to swallow.”
Ms Tshuma had always imagined coming to the UK for the first time to attend her sister’s graduation, not her murd3r trial.
Judge William Hart, in his sentencing, described the circumstances of Ms Sibanda’s k!ll!ng as “horrific”.
He stated that Zivanai’s actions were driven by anger, aggression, and groundless suspicions of infidelity.
The judge noted that Zivanai’s jealousy had been a feature of much of his relationship with Ms Sibanda.
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The Murd3r and Investigation
The events leading up to the murd3r began on the evening of August 26, when Zivanai and Ms Sibanda, who were in a relationship, got into an argument.
The argument started when Zivanai accused Ms Sibanda of cheating on him. The situation escalated, and Zivanai @tt@cked Ms Sibanda in the street, st@bbing her multiple times.
A post-mortem examination revealed that Ms Sibanda died from multiple st@b wounds to the head, throat, body, and arms.
Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Usher from Gloucestershire Police’s Major Crimes Unit said that they suspect Zivanai’s status in the UK was threatened, which led him to carry out the savage and premeditated act of violence.
The investigation found that Zivanai had a history of jealousy and aggression in his relationship with Ms Sibanda.
The Relationship & Background
Zivanai and Ms Sibanda, who were both care workers, had moved to the UK in 2023 and started a relationship. They lived together in a flat in Tredworth, Gloucestershire, where neighbors would often hear arguments and shouting. On several occasions, Zivanai had accused Ms Sibanda of infidelity, and neighbors had reported hearing him shouting and threatening her.
The couple’s relationship was marked by violence and controlling behavior, with Zivanai frequently accusing Ms Sibanda of cheating on him. Despite this, Ms Sibanda’s friends and colleagues described her as a happy and smiling person who always had a positive attitude.
The Trial & Conviction
During the trial, prosecutor Robin Shellard presented evidence of Zivanai’s guilt, including CCTV footage of the attack and witness testimonies.
The court heard that Zivanai had brought a knife from his home and used it to stab Ms Sibanda multiple times.
Zivanai’s defense did not deny the @tt@ck, but attempted to justify it as a result of his jealousy and suspicions of infidelity.
The conviction of Zivanai brought some sense of justice to Ms Sibanda’s family, but it will never bring her back.
As her sister, Nonkanyiso Tshuma, said, “The conviction won’t bring Zanela back, but it’s a start.”
