Harare man arrested for culpable homicide after his pitbull dogs mauled & killed his neighbour
A Harare man has been arrested for culpable homicide after his pitbulls allegedly mauled and killed his 39-year-old neighbour in the New Bluffhill area on Saturday.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed the arrest via their official X account:
“On 01/06/25, ZRP Mabelreign arrested Mike Mupinga (40) in connection with a case of culpable homicide which occurred at the suspect’s residence in Mabelreign. The case stems from an incident where his pit-bull dogs allegedly attacked and mauled Samuel Machara (39) to death,”
— Zimbabwe Republic Police (@PoliceZimbabwe), 1 June 2025
Victim found lifeless outside neighbour’s home
According to authorities, the lifeless body of Samuel Machara was discovered near Mupinga’s residence with visible dog bite wounds. Police said the body was taken to Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals for a post-mortem.
“The body of the victim was found near the suspect’s residence with dog bite wounds. The body was referred to the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals mortuary for postmortem,”
— @PoliceZimbabwe, 1 June 2025
Neighbours say the dogs had a history of escaping from their yard. The perimeter wall at the Mupinga residence is reportedly low and unfinished, and the pitbulls had previously been seen wandering the streets unaccompanied.
One resident, who requested anonymity, said:
“We’ve seen the dogs loose many times. We warned Mike to secure them, but nothing was done. Now someone has died.”
Residents raised red flags long before fatal attack
Community members claim they had long raised concerns about the dogs’ behaviour.
“Those pitbulls were always out. They weren’t tied up, and we feared this day would come,”
— Local resident, Bluffhill
Images have circulated online showing the dogs roaming the neighbourhood. No previous official action was taken despite the repeated complaints.
The tragic event has reignited the debate around dangerous dog breeds. In South Africa, where such cases are not uncommon, owners have faced charges and fines for similar incidents. Pitbulls remain controversial worldwide, especially in light of recent global fatal maulings.
In Zimbabwe, under Chapter 9:23 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, a person can be charged with culpable homicide if they negligently cause another’s death.
“Any person who causes the death of another person… shall be guilty of culpable homicide and liable to imprisonment for life or a fine,”
— Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act
Growing calls for tighter dog control laws
Bluffhill residents are now calling on authorities to enforce stricter dog ownership regulations, particularly for breeds known to be dangerous.
“We are scared. These dogs are not for the suburbs. What if next time it’s a child?”
— Concerned mother in Bluffhill
Others have gone further, demanding that the dogs involved in the fatal attack be euthanised immediately.
The arrest of Mike Mupinga marks a rare legal response to a fatal dog attack in Zimbabwe. He could face life imprisonment or a hefty fine if found guilty.
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The post Harare Man Arrested For Culpable Homicide After Pitbulls Maul Neighbour To Death appeared first on iHarare News.
