A man in his thirties was tragically mauled to death by a neighbour’s pitbull in the New Bluffhill suburb of Harare, Zimbabwe, late last night. The fatal attack has sent shockwaves through the local community and reignited calls for tighter regulation of dangerous dog breeds.
According to eyewitnesses, the pitbull, known in the neighbourhood for its aggressive tendencies, escaped its owner’s property by jumping over a low perimeter wall. The dog had reportedly been seen roaming the streets of Bluffhill unrestrained in previous months, despite repeated warnings and complaints from concerned residents.
Photographs circulated online show the low durawall surrounding the dog owner’s home, which residents say offered little barrier to a dog of the pitbull’s size and strength. Social media users also shared past images of the same dog wandering the area without a leash or supervision, underscoring what locals described as a neglected safety issue.
The man was attacked near the property and sustained fatal injuries. When police arrived at the scene, the victim’s body was still present as investigations got underway. Neighbours expressed shock and anger, with several calling for the dog to be euthanised.
“This could have been avoided,” one resident said. “People have been complaining for months. Now someone has died.”
Authorities have yet to release the identity of the victim, but the incident has drawn attention to the broader debate surrounding pitbull ownership in Zimbabwe and beyond.
Pitbull-related attacks have made headlines in several countries, prompting legislative action. In the United Kingdom, pitbull ownership is banned under the Dangerous Dogs Act. In the United States, where pitbulls make up just 6% of the dog population, they are responsible for over 50% of serious dog bite injuries, according to public health data.
Animal behaviour specialists caution against painting all pitbulls as dangerous, but acknowledge that when aggression does occur, the breed’s strength and bite force can lead to particularly devastating outcomes.
