Online Reporter
H-Metro Reporter
RESIDENTS of Bluff Hill in Harare are in shock and anger after a 39-year-old man was mauled to death by a pit bull in the neighbourhood yesterday despite their repeated appeals to the owner that he was putting their lives in danger.
The owner of the dogs, Mike Mupinga, 40, was arrested yesterday.
“ZRP Mabelreign arrested Mike Mupinga (40) in connection with a case of culpable homicide which occurred at the suspect’s residence,” said police in a statement.
“The case stems from an incident where his pit bull dogs allegedly attacked and mauled Samuel Machara (39) to death on 01/06/25.
“The body of the victim was found near the suspect’s residence with dog bite wounds.
The victim’s body.
“The body was referred to the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals mortuary for post-mortem.”
The residents, who spoke to H-Metro, said Mupinga’s pit bulls have become a menace in their neighbourhood.
They said at one time Mupinga kept about 15 or 16 pit bulls but some of the dogs have died after being attacked by the other dogs.
The residents said their children no longer use the street where Mupinga’s house is located because of concerns they will be attacked by the pit bulls.
“Vana havatodariki kana inini ndakapedzisira kudhara dhara kudarika road iyi,” said a resident.
“Ndane seven years ndichigara muno muBluff Hill, ndogara pama New Stands apa.
“Tinototya, hatidi kukunyeperai.
“Dzakauraya huku dzepa Mai Tari dzikadya huku dzepa Baba Maita but muridzi wacho hapana zvaanoita, Muno muBluff Hill vanenge vachingoti pama pit bulls paye saka iye akutoona kunge arikubvira. Vanhu vagara vachingo complainer.
“Imbwa dzanga dzakawandisa kana 15 or 16 dzaikwana, dzinouraya pachedzazvo.”
They said in the beginning, Mupinga used to feed his dogs with meat, buying 5kgs of meat at a time, but had since stopped doing so and this has led to the attacks on the chickens in the neighbourhood.
The house where the dogs are kept.
The residents said the pit bulls find it easy to jump the short precast wall and then roam the streets.
They said they have been sending complaints to the residents group chat warning that a disaster was on the horizon but their complaints were not heard.
It could not be established if Mupinga, who is a tenant at the house where he stays, is in the residents group chat.
A resident said he told Mupinga that he was keeping very dangerous dogs but his pleas fell on deaf earns.
