Pitbull owner denied bail over fatal dog attack

A Harare man whose unmuzzled pit bulls fatally mauled a passerby has been denied bail by Magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa, who ruled that the gravity of the offence and public interest justified his continued detention.

Mike Mupinga, 40, of Bluffhill, appeared in court on charges of culpable homicide after his dogs allegedly attacked and killed Samuel Machara on May 31, 2025.

The State, represented by prosecutor Rufaro Chonzi, accused Mupinga of gross negligence for failing to properly restrain the four dogs - three pit bulls and a Rottweiler - which were reportedly roaming freely in the yard of his rented property, which is only surrounded by a low brick wall.

"The accused person went to sleep, leaving the unmuzzled dogs unattended in the yard," said Chonzi. "The animals scaled the short perimeter wall and attacked the now deceased, who was walking along a nearby street."

Machara reportedly sustained deep wounds to the neck and severe lacerations on his hands, legs, and stomach. He succumbed to his injuries on the spot, with his body discovered on the roadside the following morning.

The prosecution revealed that the dogs were positively identified by witnesses and by the accused himself. Notably, one of Mupinga's white pit bulls was reportedly found with blood stains all over its body.

The animals were later recovered by police and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

Magistrate Gofa denied Mupinga bail, citing the seriousness of the offence, the potential for public outrage, and the likelihood of the accused interfering with witnesses.

The fatal mauling sparked renewed debate around the ownership of aggressive dog breeds, particularly pit bulls, and has prompted calls for stricter pet ownership regulations in urban communities.