Police Arrest 43-Year-Old for Armed Robbery of 9-Year-Old’s Bicycle
A 43-year-old man from Mutare, Zimbabwe, has been sentenced to three years in prison for robbing a 9-year-old boy of his bicycle at knifepoint, an incident that left the young victim traumatised.
Fungai Chihono, a resident of Chisamba Village under Chief Zimunya, was convicted by the Mutare Magistrates’ Court for the robbery, which took place on May 2, 2025. According to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ), the boy had been cycling to a nearby shopping centre around 5 p.m. when Chihono confronted him with an Okapi knife.
“Chihono threatened to stab the complainant with an Okapi knife before robbing him of his bicycle,” the NPAZ said in a statement.
The bicycle, valued at US$80, was quickly recovered after the boy’s relatives launched a manhunt. They successfully apprehended Chihono and handed him over to police.
The court sentenced Chihono to five years in prison, with two years suspended, leaving him to serve an effective three-year term.
In response to the sentencing, the NPA praised the community’s swift intervention. “The NPA applauds the swift action of the victim’s relatives and reiterates the importance of respecting property rights,” the authority stated.
The robbery has sparked outrage on social media, with many condemning the cruelty of the act and questioning Chihono’s mental state. Users described the crime as both shameful and senseless.
