Zimbabwe man mauled by police dog, denied medical attention

A Karoi man, Caleb Chinodakufa (33), is recovering from serious injuries after he was attacked by police dogs and denied medical care for several hours. Chinodakufa, who suffers from epilepsy, was left bleeding from the wounds inflicted by the dogs during the ordeal.

Chinodakufa's mother, Muchaneta Kofi, spoke to NewsDay from Chinhoyi, describing the traumatic events that unfolded on the evening of the attack. She explained that Caleb was on his way home from Chikangwe high-density suburb, where he had gone to buy his dinner, as he is the one taking care of the family house in Claudia.

"It was around 7 in the evening when the police, who were hiding in the bushes, called him to stop. The area is well known for night raids by thieves, and Caleb tried to run away. That's when they set the dogs on him," Kofi said.

After being mauled by the dogs, Chinodakufa was arrested and detained for nearly four hours before being taken to his aunt's house in Chikangwe, where the police reportedly demanded cash for his "offense." Despite his injuries, Chinodakufa was not allowed to seek medical attention immediately. Kofi said he spent the night bleeding from the dog bites.

"The police officers on duty did not allow him to seek medical attention. He slept at the charge office, and only the following morning, after a relative who is a senior officer intervened, was he finally taken to the hospital," Kofi said.

Chinodakufa was later taken to Karoi District Hospital, where he received treatment after enduring 14 hours of bleeding. His mother was shocked by how the police treated him, despite the obvious injuries he sustained. "He joined the queue like anyone else, despite bleeding from the dog bites," she said.

Police documents obtained by NewsDay show that Chinodakufa was fined US$15 for disorderly conduct under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, which covers charges for violation of public order. The hospital's records confirmed that he suffered dog bite wounds on his left leg and had to purchase an anti-rabies vaccine and antibiotics for his treatment.

Mashonaland West's deputy provincial police spokesperson, Assistant Inspector Effort Chapoto, confirmed the incident, explaining that the police were on night patrol in an area known for robberies. "He was stopped, but instead of complying with police orders, he ran away. He was fined for disorderly conduct," Chapoto said.

The incident has raised concerns about the treatment of individuals in police custody and the accessibility of medical care for those injured by law enforcement during operations.