Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke-Herald Correspondent
HARARE is mulling a ban on dangerous dogs, with municipal police officers having been instructed to shoot to kill all strays.
This follows the case of a Harare man, Mr Samuel Machera, who was on Saturday night mauled to death by vicious dogs owned by Mr Mike Mupinga, who is scheduled to appear in court today on culpable homicide charges.
What began as an ordinary Saturday evening stroll ended in tragedy for Mr Machera, a resident who never made it back home.
His lifeless body was discovered early Sunday morning, gruesomely mauled by a pack of dogs in a chilling incident that has left the community shaken.
The Herald yesterday visited the scene of the attack, where a sense of horror still lingered in the air.
The yard where Mr Machera is believed to have met his fate is enclosed by precast walls barely higher than a normal man’s knees.
With such low boundaries, the dogs, suspected to have come from within the property, had easy access to the street, raising serious questions about safety and containment.
According to experts, pit bulls are associated with a higher risk of danger compared to other dog breeds.
While the breed itself does not inherently guarantee dangerous behaviour, pit bulls and mixes are responsible for a significant number of attacks.
Their bite style, characterised by a hold-and-shake technique, can cause severe damage, potentially leading to permanent injuries.
Responsible ownership is critical, but the breed’s potential for inflicting harm is a valid concern.
Neighbours gathered at the blood-stained scene, speaking in hushed tones as they pointed out the trail of destruction left behind.
Mr Elijah Machera, the deceased’s nephew, recounted the moment he was summoned to identify his uncle’s body.
“I received a call from a friend who had seen the body and suspected it could be uncle. I rushed to the scene and was devastated to find it was indeed him,” he said.
He said the incident could have taken place during the night.
“He had gone out around 9pm for a smoke break. We never thought anything was amiss until the news came in the early morning hours. Judging by the state of the body, the attack must have happened overnight,” he said.
Another resident, Ms Catherine Chiwara, who lives a few streets away, said she had never set foot in the yard until yesterday.
“This is my first time standing in front of this house, and, unfortunately, it had to be under such grim circumstances,” she said.
Ms Chiwara shared her terrifying brush with danger involving the same dogs.
“Just a few weeks ago, I was nearly attacked by the same dogs. I was lucky that some people nearby came to my rescue before the animals could do any real harm,” she said.
Harare Mayor Advocate Jacob Mafume said they had ordered municipal police to shoot all stray dogs.
“We have instructed municipal police to shoot all stray dogs that are disturbing joggers, children and residents,” he said.
He added: “In some societies like the United States they have totally banned such types of dogs but in our case, we have instructed our legal team to see if we can ban these dogs and if we cannot then we will instruct the Government to act immediately and make sure that such species are banned.”
An Applied Canine Behavioural Scientist, Dr Munashe Nzvembe, revealed a complex interplay of factors contributing to the incident. “The pit bulls were known to be aggressive, with a history of chasing children and killing other pets in the neighbourhood,” he said.
Dr Nzvembe added that the owner, Mr Mupinga, failed to properly care for and restrain the dogs, despite repeated warnings from residents and authorities.
He also slated authorities for lack of enforcement of the dog control laws and regulations, allowing the situation to escalate.
This is not the first time that dogs have killed people in the country with several cases having been reported in the past few years.
“There is a clear pattern of irresponsible ownership and inadequate community resources contributing to these attacks. The pit bull attack in New Bluffhill, Harare, is a tragic reminder of the dangers of irresponsible dog ownership. To prevent similar incidents in the future, it is essential to implement stricter dog control laws, provide education on dog behaviour and responsible ownership practices, and increase enforcement of dog control laws and regulations,” said Dr Nzvembe
The Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ZNSPCA) confirmed the dogs were poorly socialised and neglected.
“The animals were humanely euthanised, in accordance with animal welfare protocols and in the interest of public safety. Initial assessments indicate clear evidence of neglect, confinement and poor socialisation of the animals involved,” they said.
“Such conditions are known to severely affect canine behaviour and are especially dangerous when present in certain breeds, particularly those already classified as high-risk or dangerous.”
The ZNSPCA strongly cautioned the public against the ownership, breeding and cross-breeding of dangerous dog breeds.
“These animals require specialised handling, socialisation and containment responsibilities that, if neglected, can result in tragic consequences such as these,” they said.
“If you require assistance with regards to appropriate animal care, advice or wish to surrender your animal please approach any SPCA where we stand ready to assist.”
They added: “We urgently call on members of the public not to keep dogs if unable to provide proper care, safety and socialisation. Ownership is a responsibility not a right.
“Furthermore, we reiterate our urgent appeal to Government authorities and municipal leaders to address the escalating crisis of backyard breeding and illegal dog sales.”
Several countries have taken a firm stance against pit bulls due to safety concerns, with outright bans or strict regulations in place. Among these are the United Kingdom under the Dangerous Dogs Act, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Canada such as Ontario.
Residents are now calling for urgent action from authorities to ensure that such a tragedy never repeats itself.
Many expressed concerns over the growing number of unrestrained dogs roaming in residential areas, some of which appear to be trained to attack.
