
In a horrific development, a Harare man died after being mauled to death by his own Pitbull dogs.
The tragic incident occurred in Harare’s Sunningdale neighbourhood, and the victim has been identified as Roddie Mannie. Emotional tributes have poured in on social media following the horrifying attack, which took place on Friday.
Joseph Hussein, a close friend of Roddie, took to Twitter on Saturday to share the devastating news. He described the ordeal as heart breaking and posted a series of emotional tweets that have since sparked widespread debate. Hussein, who is known as King Jay on social media, tweeted,
“I’ve just seen a video that’s too disturbing to share, depicting the heart breaking incident where my Sunningdale homie was fatally attacked by his own dogs, what appear to be pit bulls. My heartfelt condolences go out to the Mannie family for the loss of Roddie,” he wrote.
Eyewitnesses reported that the attack unfolded with alarming ferocity. Neighbours rushed to Roddie’s aid, but their efforts to intervene were unsuccessful.
“There were three guys beating the dogs with sticks, but the vicious dogs wouldn’t relent. It is horrible,” King Jay added in a follow-up tweet.
The dogs, described as highly aggressive, continued their assault despite attempts to subdue them. A video of the incident, reportedly filmed at the scene, has been deemed too graphic to circulate widely.
The Sunningdale tragedy is the latest in a series of shocking dog attacks in Zimbabwe. In November 2024, former Deputy Prime Minister’s Office Director Ms Addelis Sibutha narrowly survived a brutal mauling by her pet Boerboel in Bulawayo.
She endured severe injuries and required 29 days of hospitalisation and four surgeries. Speaking about the ordeal, she credited her survival to divine intervention and praised the dedication of medical professionals who treated her.
Speaking on her ordeal, Ms Sibutha told the Chronicle,
“On 23 November 2024, I was viciously attacked by our own Boerboel bulldog. I fought the dog calling upon God to save me. I suffered deep and severe lacerations and cuts on both arms, right leg, neck, ear and head.
“I went to the theatre for surgery four times in 20 days. I cannot thank God enough for sending His holy angels to be with me throughout this period.”
Other high-profile cases include the 2022 fatal attack on Mr John Gavhera by his Boerboels in Selbourne Park, Bulawayo, and the tragic death of a seven-year-old boy in Hurungwe District who a suspected rabid family dog killed.
The tragedy has reignited debate over the safety of owning pitbulls, a breed known for its strength and aggression. Many social media users expressed outrage and called for a ban on the breed. (iharare)