Zimbabwe MPs Want Pitbulls Banned After Deadly Harare Attack
Members of Parliament have renewed calls for a nationwide ban on Pitbulls following a recent brutal attack in Bluff Hill, Harare, where the aggressive breed killed a man.
During a parliamentary question-and-answer session on Wednesday, 5 June 2025, legislators said the breed poses a serious risk to public safety and should be outlawed. They argued that Pitbulls are unpredictable and more dangerous than other dogs, often ignoring commands from their owners.
Leading the charge was Zanu PF MP for Goromonzi West, Biata Beatrice Karimatsenga-Nyamupinga, who compared Pitbulls to wild animals, warning that people now fear for their lives even in residential areas.
“When moving in the bush we fear being killed by wild animals but when we are moving in the residential areas there are dogs such as the Pitbull. The Pitbull is killing people. That dog does not listen to instructions from the owner. What is the government policy on the keeping of animals, in particular dogs like the Pitbull?” Karimatsenga-Nyamupinga asked.
In response, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi explained that the law already regulates dog ownership through municipal licensing. He said households are limited in how many dogs they can keep, and some areas do not allow dogs at all. The person responsible for the recent fatal attack was arrested because they breached these laws, he said.
“That law clearly states the number of dogs which are allowed in each and every household in towns. In other areas there are no dogs which are allowed. That is why the individual who kept a Pitbull which killed someone was arrested. The police apprehended him because it was against the law. The Pitbull needs a licence which is different from other types of dogs because it is a very vicious dog,” Ziyambi said.
However, Karimatsenga-Nyamupinga was not convinced. She argued that licences alone won’t prevent these tragedies and suggested that Pitbulls, which she claimed can “lose their memory,” should be banned outright.
“Yes, the licence can be there, but we have that type of dog which loses its memory. What are we trying to say if we are allowing people to keep dogs which lose their memory? What are we trying to say about the lives of people?” the MP stated.
Ziyambi replied that the issue now needed expert input, particularly from the Veterinary Department. He advised the MP to submit her question in writing so a more detailed response could be given after consulting professionals.
“The government policy clearly indicates that for someone to keep dogs, they must be given a licence. If we want to go deeper on the types of licence and groups, it really needs to be written down so that we can go and consult the experts. It will be easier for each and every individual in this August House and the rest of the country to understand the requirements needed to keep Pitbull dogs,” Ziyambi explained.
Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda then directed the MP to formally submit her question for follow-up.
Another voice in support of a ban came from Chinhoyi MP Leslie Mhangwa, who compared the breed to a dangerous person in society who must be removed for public safety. He said:
“lf we have somebody who has become a danger to the community, he is put in jail or put somewhere else. The Pitbull as a breed has become a danger to the people of Zimbabwe. Is there anything that stops us from banning the breed within the country? I think this is the direction we need to move with.”
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The post Zimbabwe MPs Want Pitbulls Banned After Deadly Harare Attack appeared first on iHarare News.
