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Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
The family of the 22-year-old woman from Gweru, who was allegedly raped and fatally stabbed by her abusive husband for refusing to travel with him to South Africa, is now living in fear after the man threatened to return to kill the couple’s five-year-old daughter.

John Mazani, who is on the run, killed Everjoy Ncube a few days after paying bride price for her. Everjoy’s father, Mr Everlasting Ncube, said they were now living in fear of Mazani. He said Mazani had told his nephew that he was going to strike again and kill his daughter. The minor is staying with Mr Ncube and his family.

“We are still failing to come to terms with what happened to our daughter. On Friday last week, Mazani paid lobola and went on to show us a heifer, which he paid as part of the bride price and we sold it. On Saturday, he slept at our house in Ascot before he asked Everjoy to go with him to South Africa where he is based. My daughter refused, saying he should rather take him to his parent’s house in Coolmoreen here in Gweru,” said Mr Ncube.

“She told him that she could not go with him to South Africa since he was still an abusive husband.” Mr Ncube said later that evening, Mazani asked Everjoy to accompany him to Ascot Shopping Centre. He said Everjoy even cooked them supper, which was to be the last time they saw her alive.

“She did not come back home and the next thing we were identifying her body at Gweru Provincial Hospital. On Monday, Mazani’s relatives told us that our son-in-law had promised to come and kill his daughter, my granddaughter, their child whom I am staying with. We are now living in fear because Mazani is on the run and he might come back to fulfil his promise,” said Mr Ncube. Mr Ncube said Mazani was spotted by residents driving a Mercedes Benz Sprinter commuter omnibus with South African registration numbers near the crime scene on the day his daughter’s body was discovered.

“This man is based in South Africa and he usually smuggles goods for cross border traders.That is his job. When we went to the scene, we showed people his photos and was recognised by some residents who alleged that he was driving a commuter omnibus with South African registration numbers. We appeal to anyone who might have seen him to approach the nearest police station. Otherwise we will be in fear until he is behind bars,” he said.

Mr Ncube said Mazani returned to Zimbabwe last week on Thursday with the intention of reconciling with Everjoy and she consented. He went on to pay the bride price, before asking Everjoy to return to South Africa with him. Acting Midlands provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Ethel Mukwende said police launched a manhunt for Mazani.