A 39-year-old man was mauled to death by four dogs in Harare’s Southerton suburb, adding to a grim series of fatal and serious attacks involving dogs across Zimbabwe this year.
Malcom Takudzwa Muzavazi was attacked between 6pm and 6.30pm on Thursday, 24 September, while walking along a footpath between the ZESA Holdings boundary wall and a car sale. The attack happened as the dogs were being released from their kennels for feeding.
The animals included a male Belgian Malinois and three dogs described as Belgian Malinois and German Shepherd crossbreeds. They were under the care of a private security guard at the time of the attack.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed Muzavazi’s death and said the security guard, Mannex Svova, 21, and the co-owner of the car sale, Itai Tamirepi, 43, had been arrested and were assisting with investigations.
“The ZRP confirms the death of Malcom Takudzwa Muzavazi (39) who was fatally attacked by four dogs on 24/09/2026 between 1800 and 1830 hours along a footpath between the ZESA Holdings durawall and a car sale in Southerton, Harare,” police said.
“The security guard, Mannex Svova (21) and the co-owner of the car sale, Itai Tamirepi (43) have been arrested and are assisting Police with investigations,” the statement added.
The Southerton death came only weeks after a black Rottweiler killed an eight-month-old baby in Glen View and seriously injured two other people in an attack at a family home.
Baby Tayana Nyandoro died at the scene after the dog bit her on the head while she was being held by her mother, Rosemary Madzinga, 43. The attack took place in the Riverside area of Glen View 7, where the dog turned on several people in the family yard.
Madzinga was nursing Tayana when she saw her former housemaid, Varaidzo Gumboreshumba, 26, passing by. She called Gumboreshumba into the yard, but the dog attacked her as soon as she entered. Neighbours gathered after hearing the commotion, and two-year-old Kupakwashe Gambo was among those watching what was happening when the dog attacked him as well.
Gumboreshumba and Kupakwashe suffered serious head injuries and were taken to Sally Mugabe Hospital. Tayana was then attacked while still in her mother’s arms.
Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed the case and said the dog’s owner, John Nyandoro, 48, had been arrested and was facing a culpable homicide charge.
“Police arrested a Glen View man in connection with the sudden death of a baby due to a vicious dog bite and injuries sustained by two other people. The now deceased was bitten on the head and died on the spot,” Insp Chakanza said.
“The injured parties were referred to Sally Mugabe Hospital for treatment,” he said.
Police records showed that the Rottweiler had been vaccinated on 13 May, with the vaccination valid for one year. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals inspectors attended the Glen View scene and recommended that the dog be put down.
The attacks have renewed concern about dogs being kept in homes, businesses and security compounds without adequate control. In Kadoma, the body of a 39-year-old man was found at an open ground near Plot 104 in Sabonabona, Eiffel Flats, on 22 August. His clothes had been torn apart and the body had multiple dog-bite injuries.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the man was “mauled to death by dogs at an open ground near Plot 104, Sabonabona, Eiffel Flats, Kadoma on August 22, 2026, at around 7 pm.
“The victim’s body was later discovered at the scene, naked, with clothes torn apart and with multiple dog-bite injuries.
“The ZRP urges dog owners to ensure that their dogs are properly secured at all times and to comply with relevant local authority by-laws governing the keeping and control of dogs.”
A separate fatal attack in Bluff Hill, Harare, in June involved pit bulls and claimed the life of Samuel Machera, a neighbour of the dogs’ owner. Mike Mupinga was arrested after the attack.
Agness Kubenda, a relative of Machera, said the family had spent the day with him before he went outside to smoke. She later found the gate open and began looking for him. A 22-year-old relative eventually alerted her that Machera had been attacked.
“We spent the day well with him (Samuel)… in the evening he came to me asking for matches and I refused to give him because we are members of Vapostori and we do not condone such acts, so my younger sister ended up giving in,” Kubenda said.
“So, I suspect that he was bitten by the dogs when he went out for a smoke because that was the last time I saw him, as I had gone to sleep.”
“In the morning, when I woke up, I noticed that the gate was open and looked for him, but I could not find him. That is when I went back inside the house to check if someone had left early in the morning.”
“That is when my 22-year-old son came to alert me that babamunini Samuel was mauled by dogs.”
“Initially, I didn’t think it was that serious (but) when we arrived where he was, we saw his lifeless body.”
The danger has also been reported in cases where dogs are allowed to roam away from their owners’ properties. In July 2025, nine-year-old Shelton Panganai was killed by four dogs, believed to be Boerboels, at Bornvalley Farm in Darwendale, Mashonaland West Province.
Shelton had been playing football with other children when the dogs escaped from their owner’s property and chased them. The children ran in different directions, but Shelton was cornered near a gum tree plantation. The dogs were later put down and the owner, Mark Masendeke Magede, was arrested.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that Shelton Panganai, aged nine, was mauled to death by four suspected Boer dogs at Bornvalley Farm, Darwendale, on 17th of July 2025, while playing soccer in the company of other children,” Commissioner Nyathi said.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police is now conducting full-scale investigations into allegations that the dogs went out of their owner’s residence and went on to chase the children who ran in different directions. Shelton Panganai was then mauled to death at a nearby gum tree plantation. One suspect, Mark Masendeke Magede, has been arrested by the Police. The dogs have since been killed by relevant authorities under the supervision of the Zimbabwe Republic Police,” he said.
The repeated attacks have left residents dealing not only with the risk of severe injury or death, but also with uncertainty about where to report dangerous animals and how to obtain help after a bite.
SPCA animal inspector Allison Sibanda said victims should report attacks to police and seek medical attention, especially where anti-rabies treatment is needed.
“One is supposed to report to the police when they get bitten by a dog. After reporting to the police, the police will give the person a letter to go to the clinic and to get the anti rabies vaccine. If the dogs are too vicious and people do not want those dogs in their community the person who has been bitten can also report to the police then the police will write a letter to SPCA to remove those dogs in the area or in any other premises,” Sibanda said.
He added: “One is not allowed to walk around with their dog without a leash outside their premises, that’s an offence under the city council bylaws. You’re not allowed to keep a dog without a secure property.”
Residents have described attacks by both owned dogs and strays. Chantell Ngulube said she was bitten by a dog being walked without a leash and had to pay US$120 for treatment after the owner refused to meet her medical costs.
Melusi Ncube, from Redstone Sunninghill, said two stray dogs attacked him while he was walking home from work at about 7pm.
“I was walking home from work at around 7pm when I was attacked by two stray dogs. The dogs came towards me and attacked me. Stray dogs are a serious problem because many people who walk home in the evening are exposed to these attacks, and so far a lot of people have been attacked by these stray dogs. I’m not the only one. At least if the city council was to do something about it, it would be much safer for residents,” Ncube said.
As investigations continue into the Southerton death, the case has placed fresh attention on the dangers faced by people using footpaths beside business premises, security compounds and residential properties. Muzavazi’s death, after the Glen View baby’s killing and the other attacks recorded in Harare, Kadoma and Darwendale, has brought the issue of secure dog control back into sharp focus across the country.