Online Reporter
SHOULD ZIMBABWE BAN PIT BULLS? SOUND OFF IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.
B-METRO REPORTER
A HARARE man has been arrested after his pit bulls allegedly turned savage and tore apart a neighbour in a gruesome incident that has reignited fierce debate on whether Zimbabwe should ban the deadly breed.
On 1 June 2025, police arrested Mike Mupinga (40) after his pit bulls reportedly mauled Samuel Machara (39) to death just outside Mupinga’s home.
The victim’s lifeless body, bearing horrific dog bite wounds, was discovered near the property and taken to Parirenyatwa Hospital mortuary for postmortem.
In a statement, the Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed:
“ZRP Mabelreign arrested Mike Mupinga (40) in connection with a case of culpable homicide which occurred at the suspect’s residence… where his pit-bull dogs allegedly attacked and mauled Samuel Machara (39) to death.”
This isn’t an isolated tragedy. In February 2025, a pit bull fatally attacked a six-year-old girl in Glen View, tearing through a locked gate before pouncing on the child as she played in her yard. In April, an elderly man in Borrowdale died after being bitten in the neck by his neighbour’s unleashed pit bull.
The Mabelreign killing has triggered a digital firestorm, with many Zimbabweans calling for a total ban on the American Pitbull Terrier breed.
“Enough is enough. These dogs were bred for bloodsport. They have no place in urban neighbourhoods,” posted @JusticeForSam on X.
Animal behaviourist Rudo Nyamutsamba said the pit bull was never designed to be a family pet.
“This breed was historically developed for fighting — even lions and leopards in some cases. Keeping them in cramped urban homes without proper control is reckless,” she said.
Some residents are now pushing for legislation akin to breed-specific laws in the UK and parts of Australia, where owning pit bulls is strictly prohibited.
But not everyone agrees. A large section of dog lovers argue that it’s the training, not the type, that determines a dog’s behaviour.
Some netizens have called for boerboels to be banned as well.
“Leave Boerboels out of this. Any dog can kill if it’s not trained or controlled,” wrote @DogMumZim.
Another user, @PureBoerboel, chimed in:
“If you remember that the breed was developed to kill trapped leopards and lions, you’ll understand how menacing it is — but not all pit bulls are killers. It’s how you raise them.”
Others defended Boerboels while slamming pit bulls, calling for specific, not blanket bans.
“Boerboel riri mixed ndirine problem. Pure Boerboel riribho,” wrote one user, implying that mixed breeds are more dangerous due to unpredictable temperaments.
