By Staff Ziyah News Court Reporter
A Mutare man will rue the day he decided to rob a 9 year old boy of his bicycle after the wrath of the law descended on him with an effective three year jail term.
The offender, Fungai Chihono, is a 43 year old man from Chisamba Village, Chief Zimunya Mutare had been sentenced to five years in prison, of 2 years were suspended by the Mutare Magistrates’ Court.
The Court heard that on the 2nd of May 2025, at approximately 17:00, the offender encountered the young victim who was cycling to the shopping centre. Armed with an Okapi knife, he threatened to stab the victim before he seized his bicycle and fled the scene. However, the offender’s escape was short lived. He was pursued by the victim’s relatives who apprehended him and successfully recovered the stolen bicycle valued at USD80.00.
Elsewhere and in another disturbing case involving children, a 35 year old man from Karoi has been sentenced to two years imprisonment by the Karoi Magistrates’ Court after being convicted of indecent assault on a 10 year old girl.
Circumstances around the case are that on the 6th of July 2025, at around 1600 hours, the offender sent the victim to buy cigarettes for him. When she returned, the offender asked her to accompany him to the shops.
On the way, he bought her an ice cream, chips and a sweet. Upon arrival the offender sat on a bench and began talking to a witness. He dragged the victim to sit on his lap, removed her trousers to knee level and touched her private parts. The victim resisted and told the witness about the incident. The witness chased the offender away. The victim later narrated her ordeal to her aunt who made a police report, leading to the offender’s arrest.
The NPAZ continues to urge communities to remain vigilant in protecting children and reporting any suspicious or exploitative behaviour.