Two arrested over armed robbery and theft of new IOC president’s memorabilia
The brothers are accused of stealing cash and items worth £69,768 and holding Ms Coventry’s parents at gunpoint, police in Zimbabwe said.
Two brothers were arrested and appeared in a Zimbabwe court on Friday accused of an armed robbery at the home of new International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry’s parents, where they allegedly stole some of Ms Coventry’s sporting memorabilia.
John and Mike Nhongwe are accused of stealing cash and items worth 90,000 dollars (£69,768) and holding Ms Coventry’s parents at gunpoint, according to police.
The items stolen included jewellery, firearms and some of ex-Olympic swimmer Ms Coventry’s souvenirs from her career, as well as 15,000 dollars (£11,628) in cash.
Police and prosecutors did not give details of the memorabilia, but state media reported it included some of Ms Coventry’s Olympic clothing. They said the robbery happened on March 10.
Ms Coventry, 41, was elected as the new president of the IOC on Thursday in Greece, becoming the first woman and first African to take perhaps the most powerful job in sports.
She is a two-time Olympic swimming champion who competed at five Summer Games before retiring in 2016.
She has served as Zimbabwe’s sports minister since 2018 and is expected to return to her home country on Sunday, according to the Zimbabwe Olympic Committee.
Police say the Nhongwe brothers tied Ms Coventry’s parents up with shoelaces at their home in the Zimbabwe capital, Harare. It was not clear if Ms Coventry was in Zimbabwe at the time, which was during the final run-in to the IOC vote.
Exact details of the stolen Olympic gear and whether it has been recovered are expected to be made available in court on Saturday, when the two accused men are due to reappear to be formally charged and an indictment is issued.
A magistrate ruled that they be held in custody until that court hearing.
Ms Coventry is Africa’s most decorated Olympian and will begin her eight-year term as the head of the global Olympic body in June. She will succeed Germany’s Thomas Bach, who has been president of the IOC since 2013.
