Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo-Herald Reporter
A Bluff hill, Harare, man is assisting police with investigations after his pit bulls mauled a neighbour to death.
Police yesterday confirmed the arrest of Mike Mupinga over the death of Mr Samuel Machera and said he will appear in court in due course.
A relative of the deceased, Ms Agness Kubenda, told The Herald that tragedy struck around midnight on Saturday when Mr Machera had apparently gone out for a smoke.
“We spent the day well with him (Samuel)… in the evening he came to me asking for matches, and I refused to give him because we are members of Vapostori and we do not condone such acts, so my younger sister ended up giving in.
One of the pit bulls that mauled the now deceased, Mr Samuel Machera around midnight on Saturday.
“So I suspect that he was bitten by the dogs when he went out for a smoke because that was the last time I saw him, as I had gone to sleep,” she said.
Ms Kubenda continued her narration:
“In the morning when I woke up, I noticed that the gate was open and looked for him, but I could not find him. That is when I went back inside the house to check if someone had left early in the morning. That is when my 22-year-old son came to alert me that babamunini Samuel (uncle) was mauled by dogs. Initially, I didn’t think it was that serious, so when we arrived where he was, we saw his lifeless body,” she said.
The ZRP yesterday confirmed the arrest of Mr Mupinga.
“On 01/06/25, ZRP Mabelreign arrested Mike Mupinga (40) in connection with a case of culpable homicide which occurred at the suspect’s residence.
“The case stems from an incident where his pit bull dogs allegedly attacked and mauled Samuel Machara (39) to death,” said the police on its official X handle.
Mr Samuel Machera
“The body of the victim was found near the suspect’s residence with dog bite wounds. The body was referred to the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals mortuary for post-mortem.”
Pit bulls, also known as American Pit Bull Terriers, are a dog breed that has a controversial history and reputation.
Originally bred in England for bull baiting, they were later brought to the US and used in dog fighting.
According to experts, pit bulls are often associated with a higher risk of danger compared to other dog breeds.
While the breed itself doesn’t 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.
