Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
A 35-year-old Victoria Falls man, Milton Nyoni, narrowly avoided a custodial sentence on Monday after pleading guilty to a violent assault in which he stabbed and bit his ex-wife’s boyfriend.
The incident occurred along a road near the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) offices in Victoria Falls, leaving the victim with a stab wound to the chest and multiple bite injuries.
Nyoni appeared before Victoria Falls Magistrate Ms Fadzai Dzimiri, facing assault charges.
The court heard that on the morning of June 11, 2026, Nyoni confronted his ex-wife, Bibiano Shoko, as she walked to work with her partner, Fundani Gumpo.
“On 11 June 2026 at around 7 AM, the complainant was on his way to work together with Bibiano Shoko, who is the accused person’s ex-wife. Upon reaching an unnamed road near VID, Victoria Falls, the accused person approached Bibiano Shoko, intending to assault her.
“The complainant tried to intervene, and this did not sit well with the accused person. The accused person proceeded to stab the complainant once on the left side of the chest with an Okapi Knife and bit him several times on the left hand.
“The complainant managed to disarm the accused person, and the accused person then ran away. The complainant proceeded to report the matter to the police, leading to the arrest of the accused person. The complainant was medically examined, and a medical affidavit can be produced in court. The accused person acted unlawfully,” said prosecutor Ms Audrey Mukanganya.
In her ruling, Magistrate Dzimiri sentenced Nyoni to 20 months’ imprisonment. However, six months of that term were suspended on condition of future good behaviour. The remaining 14 months were suspended on condition that Nyoni completes community service at the Victoria Falls Police Station.
Meanwhile, in a separate matter before the same magistrate, an 18-year-old Victoria Falls taxi driver was found guilty of aggravated unlawful entry after stealing a cash box containing US$1,800 from a fellow taxi driver’s home.
Magistrate Ms Fadzai Dzimiri sentenced Angel Mumpande to 24 months’ imprisonment. Six months of the sentence were suspended for five years on condition of good behaviour, while a further eight months were suspended on condition that he makes restitution. The remaining 10 months were suspended on condition that he perform 350 hours of community service.
Mumpande was charged with aggravated unlawful entry into premises as defined in Section 131(1) read with Section 131(2)(e) of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act Chapter 9:23.
“On 4 June 2026, and at a house in Aerodrome, Victoria Falls, at around 6.30 AM, the complainant placed his money amounting to US$1,800 inside a grey metal cash box.
“The complainant locked it with a padlock key and placed it in his wardrobe. The complainant then left his house with the doors closed but not locked.
“Whilst the complainant was away at around 10 AM, Mpunde proceeded to the complainant’s place of residence, entered into his house through a closed but unlocked door, and took the cash box containing US$1,800 and went away with it.
“On 5 June 2026, at around 9 AM, the complainant checked his cash box and discovered that it was missing. On 9 June 2026, the complainant made a report to the police, who carried out an investigation leading to the arrest of Mpande and the recovery of the stolen money and cash box.
“ The total value stolen is US$1,800, and the total value recovered is US$530. The accused person acted unlawfully,” Prosecutor Ms Audrey Mukanganya told the court.
