Online Reporter
B-Metro Reporter
IN the wake of a shocking pitbull attack that left 39-year-old Samuel Machara dead, the Zimbabwe National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ZNSPCA) has issued a statement.
The ZNSPCA confirmed that all dogs involved in the fatal mauling have been removed and euthanised, citing public safety concerns and clear signs of neglect and poor socialisation.
The cross-breed pitbull, owned by Mike Mupinga (40), reportedly turned on Machara in a vicious, unprovoked attack that sent shockwaves across Zimbabwe. Now, animal welfare officials have stepped in with a firm response and a national warning.
“Initial assessments indicate clear evidence of neglect, confinement, and poor socialisation,” reads part of the statement.
“Such conditions are especially dangerous in high-risk breeds.”
The ZNSPCA is urging the public not to keep dogs they can’t control and slammed backyard breeders for fuelling the rise in dangerous, untrained pets that pose serious threats to communities.
They called on government and municipal leaders to crack down on illegal breeding and unregulated dog sales that are turning residential areas into ticking time bombs.
“The unchecked proliferation of these practices results in countless neglected, abused, or abandoned animals. And now, as we’ve witnessed, loss of human life.”
The statement also signals possible legal consequences for dog owners who fail to meet animal welfare standards. ZNSPCA vowed to support prosecutions and demanded urgent updates to outdated animal laws, including custodial sentences for serious violations.
This is the latest twist in a running story that first exploded online after disturbing details of the fatal attack emerged. Neighbours had described the dogs as aggressive and always locked up, with some claiming they had previously tried to report the situation.
Public outrage is mounting, and the spotlight is now firmly on dog ownership laws or the lack of them.
ZNSPCA’s has issued a clear message; “Don’t keep what you can’t control. Don’t breed what you can’t train. And if you can’t care for it, surrender it. Before it’s too late.”
