By Lynette Manzini
Barely a month after Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume urged city officials to enforce dog ownership laws, a tragic incident in Harare West has reignited debate over dangerous dog breeds in Zimbabwe.
The Harare City Council Dogs Act, officially known as the Dog Licensing and Control By-Laws, regulates dog ownership in the city, outlining responsibilities and restrictions for dog owners.
Under these by-laws, households on plots smaller than 2,000 square meters are permitted to keep only one dog. Residents in high-density suburbs are not allowed to own more than two dogs.
Despite these regulations, a man was recently mauled to death by pitbulls, prompting renewed calls for breed-specific legislation.
The victim, Samuel Machara (39), was allegedly attacked by dogs belonging to Mike Mupinga (40) in the suburb of Mabelreign.
According to the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Machara’s body was found near Mupinga’s home with multiple dog bite wounds.
Mupinga has been arrested and charged with culpable homicide.
Harare West legislator Joana Mamombe, responding to the incident in her constituency, expressed outrage and sadness on her X (formerly Twitter) account.
“We have learnt with sadness the death of a #HarareWest constituency resident, after he was attacked by a Pit-bull dog that was roaming freely in the street. #MHSRIP,” she wrote.
She added: “It’s time as the legislature we pass breed-specific legislation which restricts and bans certain dog breeds.”
This is not the first time a pitbull attack has triggered national concern.
In 2023, the death of a 9-year-old girl following a similar attack led Harare residents to demand a ban on pitbulls.
In 2024, Masvingo City Council also considered banning the breed after five residents were attacked. Statistics from January to November 2024 show that 26,000 people were bitten by dogs in Zimbabwe.
This growing number highlights the need for stricter regulation of dog breeding and ownership.
Mayor Mafume’s earlier call for enforcement of the Dogs Act now resonates with new urgency, as yet another life is lost to a preventable tragedy.
