Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is drafting a hard-hitting policy aimed at banning the breeding of vicious dog breeds, following a spate of fatal and near-fatal: attacks on residents by their own pets.
The local authority says many dog owners are failing to properly secure their animals, posing a growing danger to public safety. According to BCC’s latest figures, 425 dog bites were recorded between January and July this year, with one death from rabies confirmed.
The proposed policy will target notorious breeds such as pit bulls and boerboels, which have been at the centre of horrifying attacks in recent years.
Last November, Addelis Sibutha, a former top government official, survived a brutal mauling by her boerboel that left her with life-threatening injuries to her arms, legs, and head. She underwent four surgeries in just 20 days at Mater Dei Hospital.
In 2022, John Gavhera of Selbourne Park was killed by his two boerboels in a shocking attack that sent panic across the city. More recently, in Harare, Mr Samuel Machara was fatally mauled by a pit bull, leading to the arrest of its owner on culpable homicide charges.
Bulawayo Town Clerk Christopher Dube said the rise in dangerous dogs is a growing concern even for police. He urged residents to comply with the city’s Dog Control By-Laws, stressing that owning a dog is both a privilege and a responsibility.
“As part of our measures to curb the menace, we have been putting down stray dogs, with 79 euthanised during the last week of July,” said Dr Edwin Mzingwane, the city’s Director of Health Services.
The policy is still under review, with input expected from SPCA, veterinary services, and Zimbabwe Republic Police before it becomes law.
BCC=( limits residents to two dogs per household in western suburbs and four in low-density areas.
The city joins a global push to control dangerous breeds, with countries like Australia, Canada, the UK, and several US states already imposing bans or strict restrictions on pit bull ownership.
This bold move by BCC is expected to spark debate between animal rights advocates and public safety campaigners.
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