ZIM MAN JAILED FOR LIFE FOR MURDERING PARTNER IN STREET ATTACK IN UK

Zimbabwean man has been jailed for life after murdering his South African partner in a knife attack on a Gloucester street in front of members of the public.

Tanaka Zivanai, 32, of Dora Walk, Tredworth, was sentenced at Bristol Crown Court after admitting the murder of 28-year-old Zanele Sibanda and possession of a bladed article in a public place.

He was ordered to serve a minimum of 20 years and 10 months before becoming eligible for parole. A concurrent two-year sentence was also imposed for carrying the knife.

The court heard that Zivanai killed Zanele at around 1.45am on 27 August 2024 at the junction of Paul Street and Tarrington Road in Tredworth.

Despite the efforts of police officers and paramedics who rushed to the scene, Zanele died from multiple stab and slash wounds.

Zivanai was arrested at the scene and later admitted both offences during a hearing in November 2024.

Prosecutors outlined a history of abusive behaviour in the couple’s relationship.

The court heard Zivanai was intensely jealous and controlling, and regularly subjected Zanele to emotional abuse.

He frequently accused her of having affairs without evidence. Neighbours told the court they often heard arguments, Zanele crying and objects being smashed inside the couple’s flat.

One concerned neighbour became so worried for Zanele’s safety that she gave her the contact details of a domestic abuse support service.

In the days before her death, a male colleague drove Zanele home from work on two occasions.

On both occasions she asked to be dropped off several streets away from her home because she feared Zivanai would see her with another man and become violent.

The day before the murder, Zanele spent time with friends after work while Zivanai repeatedly phoned and video called her.

During one call, which friends overheard on speakerphone, he shouted abuse at her and became enraged after seeing a man in the room.

He demanded she leave immediately and return home, threatening to kill her if she came back to the flat.

Although her friends pleaded with her to stay somewhere safe overnight, Zanele declined, believing his anger would subside.

As she made her way home, Zivanai called again and repeated his threat, shouting: “If you come back, I’ll kill you.”

Later that evening neighbours witnessed another lengthy argument outside the couple’s flat about Zivanai’s immigration status and fears he could be forced to return to Zimbabwe.

The court also heard he accused Zanele, who was originally from South Africa, of having a relationship with another man.

At around 11.40pm, CCTV captured Zivanai shouting into his mobile phone while carrying a bottle of alcohol. During the call he threatened to kill a man he wrongly believed had been involved with Zanele.

Shortly before the murder, Zivanai assaulted Zanele in the street, causing her to fall to the ground where she appeared unconscious.

Rather than leaving, he returned to the flat, armed himself with a knife and came back to where she lay.

He then repeatedly stabbed her in front of horrified witnesses.

When police arrived minutes later, they found Zivanai lying beside Zanele’s body.

Emergency services attempted to save her life, but she died at the scene.

During sentencing, Judge Hart described the killing as horrific.

He told Zivanai that he had been angry, aggressive and consumed by entirely groundless jealousy throughout the relationship.

The judge said Zanele had been intimidated by his behaviour and condemned the calculated decision to leave the flat, collect a knife and return to carry out the fatal attack.

In mitigation, the court heard Zivanai had no previous convictions, had pleaded guilty, expressed remorse and had experienced poor mental health and a troubled background.

Following sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Usher of the Major Crime Investigation Team described Zivanai as an extremely controlling and dangerous individual whose immigration concerns appeared to have contributed to the premeditated attack.

He said the murder had deeply affected Zanele’s family, the witnesses who saw the attack, and the wider Gloucester community.

Detective Chief Inspector Usher also highlighted the impact on Zanele’s two young children, aged two and nine, who had been left without their mother.

He said he hoped the sentence would provide her loved ones with some measure of closure as they attempted to rebuild their lives after such a tragic loss.