Online Reporter
Mathew Masinge
RESIDENTS of a Nyabira farm where a schoolgirl was mauled to death after being attacked by a pack of three vicious dogs say the owner of the dogs ignored repeated warnings that his pests posed a danger to their community.
Caroline Chari, a 13-year-old Grade 7 pupil, was attacked while on her way home from school and died on Monday.
The tragedy has left the Stapleford farming community of Nyabira reeling from both shock and grief.
Her family suspects FOUL PLAY.
The closely-knit community is now having the difficult task of confronting unbearable grief as it deals with the pain of losing her in such tragic circumstances.
The owner of the dogs, Gift Jambera, 50, has since been arrested.
The community members say he ignored their pleas to keep his dogs in check and police have noted that the dogs were last vaccinated last year.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is investigating the death of a 13-year-old girl, Caroline Chari, who was mauled to death by three vicious dogs at St Mannocks Farm, Nyabira, on 29 September 2025,” police national spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said in a statement.
“The victim was coming from school in the company of four schoolmates when three marauding dogs attacked and chased them.
“The children ran in different directions, the dogs pursued and caught up with the victim, resulting in her death,” reads part of the statement.
He added:
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is disturbed by the increasing trend of vicious dogs being allowed to roam freely without leashes or proper supervision. It is the responsibility of dog owners to ensure public safety.
“The ZRP reminds dog owners to keep their dogs on leash and ensure that dogs do not roam on the streets unsupervised in accordance with the country’s laws, especially the Harare Dog Licensing and Control By Law of 1993.
“Dog owners should prioritise the safety of others.
“The ZRP is now engaging SPCA and local authorities for an operation targeting stray dogs and owners who allow their dogs to roam on the streets and in the process attack members of the public.”
Gory pictures of the deceased show that her private parts are missing and she suffered dog bites on her legs and neck.
Caroline, who has a twin brother, is expected to be laid to rest tomorrow.
Mourners are gathered at the family home, awaiting post-mortem results.
When our news crew visited the Chari homestead, only Caroline’s sister, Sandra, was home while the other family members had attended a court hearing.
Sandra told H-Metro:
“I suspect there is some foul play surrounding my sister’s death, we will wait for the post-mortem results but some of the scars and holes on her body suggest otherwise.
“When her friend shared the news with us that she was being mauled by dogs, we quickly rushed to the scene and before we could get there, we saw a white Wish speeding off and we managed to get hold of the number plates.
“I am in pain, my mother and the whole family can’t take this in after this devastating loss, my sister was intelligent, and we were looking forward to her Grade 7 results.
“Tarwadziwa zvisingaite nemafiro aakaita.
“Anga ane twin brother, hatizive how he will accept this loss, arikurwadziwawo,” said Sandra.
Sandra has demanded that the dogs’ owner be held accountable.
“We hear stories that he always brags that the police won’t do anything to him, some have tried to report him to the police but he would somehow find a way out of the mess.
“We just want justice for our Caroline so that we find peace, we have lost a loved one who had a future ahead of her and someone must be held accountable,” she said.
Neighbours say they saw the tragedy coming.
They claim they warned the dogs’ owner, Jambera, repeatedly about the danger which his pets posed but he kept ignoring them.
They say he claimed the dogs were his family and could not harm anyone.
Out of the seven dogs kept at Jambera’s homestead, five are still on the loose, a persistent and ongoing threat to the neighbourhood.
H-Metro spoke to someone who was attacked by the same dogs about two years ago but luckily survived.
“I was also just 13 when the same pack of dogs pounced on me. Two
ears later, I still carry the scars on my body and mind.
“These beasts hunted me like prey, I was only saved after a stranger intervened just in time, before things turned even worse.
“The attack changed my life forever and every time I leave the house my father fears another attack,” said Chantel Mafika.
Tonderai Marumahoko, a neighbour, said he tried to talk to Jambera about the threat posed by the dogs but he just could not take any advice.
“When it comes to his dogs, Jambera has always been arrogant, we told him over and over again that he should secure his dogs but he couldn’t listen.
“Tinogara tichitotyira vana vedu pese pavanobuda nekuti murume uyu haadi kuvharira imbwa dzake.
‘Ipapa vana vatova ne two days vasinga ende kuchikoro because imbwa hadzisati dzabatwa dzese.
“Haatonzwe nenyaya yembwa dzake,” said Marumahoko.
