Teenage Boy Mistakenly Bitten By Police Dogs During Chaos In Matebeleland North

A teenage boy from the village of Lukona, located between Nkayi and Nyathi in Matabeleland North, has suffered severe injuries following an attack by police dogs. The incident, which occurred on a Wednesday morning, has raised concerns over police handling of the situation in the region.

Teenage boy bitten by police dogs at his local shops

The boy, identified as Sabelo Dube, was reportedly on a routine errand to the local shops in Lukona when he found himself caught in a dangerous situation. Police had arrived in the area, accompanied by dogs, in response to a gold rush at a nearby mining claim in Kenilworth. According to eyewitness accounts, the officers attempted to disperse a crowd gathered at the shops when they released the dogs.

Sabelo’s uncle, Collen Mpofu, explained that the police had been deployed to Lukona under the orders of a local mine manager named Dumisani, who had inherited the mine from his father. “There had been a gold discovery in Kenilworth, and it seems Dumisani instructed the police to go there. However, they first arrived at Lukona shops with their dogs, and when people saw the police, they began to flee,” Mpofu said. Unfortunately, Sabelo, who was at the shops at the time, was unable to escape the chaotic scene and was attacked by the police dogs.

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teenage boy bitten by police dogs — Teenage boy mauled by police dogs in Likona-Image Source@istock

Other Victims and Aftermath

Mpofu further revealed that Sabelo wasn’t the only victim of the attack. The police were reportedly seen looking for Sabelo after the attack, possibly in an attempt to assist him after the situation calmed down.

“It appears other villagers, including elderly people, were also bitten by the dogs. Another relative of ours, Kholwani Khabo, suffered injuries that were more severe than Sabelo’s”

Medical Assistance and Treatment Challenges

Following the attack, Sabelo was rushed to Lukona Clinic, but due to the severity of his injuries, he was transferred to Nyathi Hospital for further care. However, the distance from the hospital and the high cost of treatment posed significant challenges for the family.

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“The hospital wanted to admit him, but the transport costs are too high. One injection costs around US$20, and it’s difficult for the family to afford this,” Mpofu explained.

As a result, Sabelo’s family decided to manage his treatment at home, with the help of local medical staff from Lukona Clinic.

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