A routine trip to the toilet turned into every parent’s worst nightmare for a Dora Camp mother when a stranger allegedly grabbed her naked three-year-old son by the neck and attempted to flee with him in broad daylight.
The dramatic kidnapping attempt sparked a frantic rescue effort by alert neighbours, who chased down the suspect and wrested the terrified toddler from his grip.
The suspect, Lloyd Zviyuya (40), popularly known as Dingo, has since been convicted of kidnapping by Mutare provincial magistrate Tendai Mahwe and sentenced to five years in prison. One year of the sentence was suspended on condition of good behaviour, leaving him with an effective four-year jail term.
In passing sentence, Mahwe considered that Zviyuya was a first-time offender and had pleaded guilty. However, the court took into account the seriousness of the offence, particularly the fact that the victim was a vulnerable three-year-old child who could not adequately protect himself.
Prosecutor Chris Munyuku said the incident occurred on October 25, at around 1pm, at Dora Camp, near Taguta Stone Crushers under Chief Zimunya, Mutare.
Zviyuya watched the child as he emerged from a toilet situated about 30 metres from his family’s home before grabbing him by the neck and forcibly moving him about 100 metres away.
“He lifted the toddler and attempted to flee while the child struggled to free himself from his grip. The incident was witnessed by a 61-year-old neighbour who raised alarm, prompting other villagers to intervene. A 27-year-old neighbour confronted Zviyuya and managed to wrest the child away from him. Zviyuya was subsequently arrested,” reads part of the State outline.
When our news crew visited the family home, the boy’s mother, Patience Chibaya, recalled the terrifying moments.
She said she was inside the house when her son asked for permission to use the toilet, which is a short distance away.
Having made the trip alone many times before, there was no reason to suspect anything untoward.
Moments later, frantic screams from neighbours shattered the afternoon calm.
“When I heard people shouting that my child had been kidnapped, I rushed outside. I found neighbours confronting the man, who had already set free my son and was throwing stones at people trying to stop him. He grabbed my child as he came out of the toilet. I cannot imagine what would have happened had the neighbours not intervened. It was a frightening experience,” said Chibaya.
Villagers eventually overpowered Zviyuya, tied him up and handed him over to the police.
Although her son escaped unharmed, Chibaya said the incident left her and the child deeply disturbed.
“I am still traumatised. We hear reports of children disappearing almost every day and my own child went through such an ordeal. He is now afraid of strangers and no longer feels comfortable going outside. Even with the hot weather, I prefer staying indoors with him because I am afraid of what might happen if I let him out,” she said.
Chibaya said some of Zviyuya’s relatives later approached the family, claiming he had begun exhibiting signs of mental illness the day before the incident.
They also allegedly told the family that Zviyuya had previously been linked to another case involving the abduction of a three-year-old child who was later released unharmed.
A neighbour who witnessed the drama, Emilia Madondo, said the incident unfolded shortly after she saw Zviyuya chasing another villager while carrying a shovel.
“He appeared excited and was shouting ‘Yafa mari!’ before disappearing. Later, he turned his attention to the toddler. He grabbed him, pressed him against his chest and held him by the neck. The child was struggling to break free as he tried to run away with him,” she said.
Madondo said the distressed child appeared confused with what was happening.
“Another woman immediately called the mother, while the boy’s brother asked Zviyuya where he was taking the child,” she said.
Madondo said Zviyuya claimed he wanted to show the toddler where his father was. However, after neighbours rescued the child, he allegedly became violent and hurled stones at those confronting him before he was subdued.
She added that villagers later learnt Zviyuya had allegedly attempted to kidnap another child near local shops earlier that day but was thwarted by vigilant community members.
Another neighbour, Anna Zendera, said the shocking incident had left parents fearing for their children’s safety.
“No one is safe when someone can simply walk up to a child and snatch them away. We appeal to the police to ensure that people involved in such acts are arrested and brought before the courts. As mothers, we are worried about what could have happened to this little boy had our neighbours not acted quickly,” she said. — Manicaland Bureau
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Two Kezi teens facing prison for stealing chicken and chips worth US$4
Two young men from Kezi have landed in trouble after allegedly beating up a Bulawayo man and making off with his meal of chicken and chips worth US$4.
Mkhululi Dube (19) of Bango village under Chief Bango and Bukhosi Moyo (19) of Madwaleni village under Chief Sithole in Kezi, Matabeleland South province, appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Sam Chitumwa facing robbery charges. The pair was not asked to plead and was remanded in custody.
Prosecutor Tumelo Hindoga told the court that on October 28, 2025, at around 10.50pm, the two allegedly teamed up and attacked Casper Zongeni, an unemployed Bulawayo man, at the corner of Fort Street and Fourth Avenue in the city centre. The court heard that the accused allegedly slapped Zongeni several times in the face before snatching his two pieces of chicken and chips.
“Accused persons, acting in common purpose, met the complainant, assaulted him with open hands several times and forcibly took his two pieces of chicken and chips,” Hindoga told the court.
After allegedly grabbing the food, the two fled, leaving Zongeni to report the robbery to the police.
The duo was later arrested and taken to Bulawayo Central Police Station. The stolen food, valued at US$4, was not recovered.
Although Zongeni did not suffer serious injuries, the court heard that he was left shaken by the attack. Chitumwa advised the accused to approach the High Court for bail, stating that the offence they are facing is serious. He remanded them in custody, citing ongoing investigations and the need to protect the complainant. — Bulawayo Bureau
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Father axed, robbed in front of family by 10-man machete gang
A Lovendale family had the shock of their life when 10 machete- and axe-wielding robbers stormed their home in the dead of night, savagely assaulted their father and escaped with cash and valuables.
Edious Gwindingwi (36) of Lovendale, Umguza, was sleeping alongside his 35-year-old wife when the gang allegedly forced open a French door and burst into their home at around 11.30pm on October 26.
The intruders reportedly made a beeline for the main bedroom, where they descended on Gwindingwi, raining blows on him while demanding cash.
One of the suspects allegedly struck him once on the head with a machete, leaving him with a cut on his forehead.
The gang then ransacked the house before making off with his wallet containing US$1 500 and R500, a Redmi 13C cellphone and a Hisense cellphone. The total value of the stolen property was estimated at US$1 680 and R500.
The suspects reportedly fled through the main entrance, leaving the family traumatised.
A police report was subsequently made.
A family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the family was still struggling to come to terms with the horrifying ordeal.
“We are traumatised. Edious is a humble and hardworking man who does not deserve this. He was sleeping peacefully with his wife when those criminals attacked him like an animal. We thank God he is alive because that cut on the head could have killed him,” said the family member.
The relative said the family wanted the suspects to be brought to book, fearing that other households could fall victim to similar attacks.
“As a family, we are appealing for justice. That money was his hard-earned savings and now it is gone. We hope police will arrest these robbers quickly before they attack other families,” he added.
Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele confirmed the robbery and said investigations were underway.
“We confirm an armed robbery in Lovendale where Edious Gwindingwi was attacked and robbed by 10 suspects. Investigations are underway and we appeal for information leading to their arrest,” she said. — Bulawayo Bureau
