‘Killer’ dogs’ owners face arrest: Cops

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
POLICE in Masvingo have said the owners of eight vicious dogs that allegedly mauled a four-year-old boy to death and left another 10-year-old child for dead face culpable homicide charges.

Acting Masvingo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Kudakwashe Dehwa said Ahmad Amon, 59, and Edward Mukaratirwa, 38, will be arrested soon after they return from the burial of the late Success Kasanhayi in Mount Darwin in Mashonaland Central.

Asst Insp Dehwa said Amon and Mukaratirwa face culpable homicide charges emanating from their negligence that resulted in their dogs killing the four year old in Eastvale suburb.

“We have opened a docket for the dog owners and they will have to answer charges of culpable homicide. Police are waiting for their return from a funeral in Mount Darwin, the family’s home area where Success’ body will be laid to rest,” said Asst Insp Dehwa.

He said failure to secure one’s dog and letting it stray outside one’s yard constitutes a crime. He said the dogs were supposed to be kept secured in the yard.

Asst Insp Dehwa said all the eight dogs that attacked the boy were shot dead by the police following the incident.

On Sunday at around 4PM, the dogs pounced on the boy who was playing with four other children in the same suburb.

They dragged him into a nearby bush, mauled him all over the body and he died hours later in hospital.

Two hours after the incident, the same dogs which were still roaming the streets attacked a ten-year-old boy, leaving him for dead.

The late boy’s mother, Charity Mabhiza, 24, said she had gone to town to buy some onions when the incident occurred while his father, Grafton Kasanhayi, 33, had gone to the shops.

Masvingo Residents Trust (MRT) coordinator, Prosper Tiringindi, said the owners of the killer dogs must face the wrath of the law.

“We hail the stance taken by our police. We were already calling for the owners’ arrest given that a life has been lost through their failure to control the dogs. If one wants to keep dogs he or she should be a responsible owner,” said Tiringindi.