Zimbabwean MPs call for ban on pit bull terriers

In the wake of a recent fatal attack by Pit Bull Terriers on a Harare resident, members of Zimbabwe's Parliament have called for a ban on the breed, citing growing concerns over public safety.

During a Question and Answer session on Wednesday, several legislators urged Speaker Jacob Mudenda to consider outlawing Pit Bulls, describing the breed as aggressive and difficult to control. The call comes just two weeks after a man was mauled to death by Pit Bulls in Bluff Hill, Harare.

Zanu PF Goromonzi West MP Biata Beatrice Karimatsenga-Nyamupinga voiced her fears about the danger posed by the dogs, saying, "When moving in the bush, we fear wild animals, but when we are in residential areas, there are dogs such as the Pit Bull. The Pit Bull 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?"

Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, who also serves as Leader of Government Business in Parliament, responded that current laws require dog owners to obtain licenses issued by local councils, with strict regulations on the number and types of dogs permitted in towns and other areas. He highlighted that the owner of the Pit Bulls involved in the recent fatal attack had been arrested because the dogs were kept illegally without the proper license.

"The Pitbull needs a licence which is different from other types of dogs because it is a very vicious dog," Minister Ziyambi explained.

However, Karimatsenga-Nyamupinga was not convinced that licensing alone would prevent further attacks. She pointed out that the breed is prone to "losing its memory," implying unpredictable and dangerous behavior, and urged the government to consider an outright ban.

"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 questioned.

Minister Ziyambi advised that the issue required expert input from the Veterinary Department and asked the MP to submit her question in writing for a thorough investigation.

Chinhoyi MP Leslie Mhangwa also supported calls for stronger action, stating, "If 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."

Speaker Mudenda ruled that Karimatsenga-Nyamupinga's question be formally submitted in writing for further deliberation and scheduled discussion next week.

The recent attack involved a Harare man, Samuel Machara, who was killed by Pit Bulls owned by Mike Mupinga, 40, of Bluff Hill. Mupinga was arrested and charged with culpable homicide. This tragic incident follows a similar case in 2022 where a Bulawayo man from Selborne suburb was fatally bitten by his own dogs.

Globally, several countries have enacted breed-specific legislation targeting Pit Bull-type dogs. Twelve European countries, as well as Australia, Canada, parts of the United States, Ecuador, Malaysia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Singapore, and Venezuela have banned or heavily restricted Pit Bulls. In Australia, some states mandate sterilization, while the UK, the Canadian province of Ontario, and various U.S. states have outright bans in place.

Zimbabwean MPs' calls for stricter regulation or a ban on Pit Bulls reflect growing concerns about public safety and aim to prevent future tragedies linked to the aggressive breed.