By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Members of Parliament (MPs) have renewed their calls for a nationwide ban on Pitbull dogs following a recent deadly attack in Bluff Hill, Harare, where the breed was responsible for killing a man.
During a parliamentary question-and-answer session on Wednesday, 5 June 2025, legislators expressed concern over the breed’s aggressive nature and its potential threat to public safety.
They argued that Pitbulls are unpredictable and often ignore commands from their owners, making them a danger in residential areas.
Zanu PF MP for Goromonzi West, Biata Beatrice Karimatsenga-Nyamupinga, led the debate, comparing Pitbulls to wild animals and warning that people now fear for their lives even in their own neighborhoods.
“When moving in the bush we fear being killed by wild animals but when we are in residential areas, there are dogs such as the Pitbull. The Pitbull 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?” she asked.
In response, Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi explained that, “dog ownership is already regulated through municipal licensing laws. He noted that households are limited in the number of dogs they can keep, and some areas prohibit dogs altogether. The recent fatal attack was carried out by a dog owner who breached these regulations,” he said.
“That law clearly states the number of dogs which are allowed in each household in towns. In some areas, dogs are not allowed at all. The individual who kept a Pitbull which killed someone was arrested because they violated these laws. The Pitbull requires a special license due to its vicious nature,” Ziyambi stated.
The minister also indicated that the matter requires expert input, particularly from the Veterinary Department. He advised the MP to submit her question in writing so that a detailed response can be prepared after consulting with professionals.
“The government policy states that anyone keeping dogs must have a license. To go into specifics about the types of licenses and breeds, we need to write down and consult experts. This will help the public understand the requirements for keeping breeds like the Pitbull,” Ziyambi explained.
Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, then directed Karimatsenga-Nyamupinga to formally submit her question for further follow-up.
Supporting the call for a ban, Chinhoyi MP Leslie Mhangwa compared the breed to a dangerous person in society who must be removed for public safety.
“If we have somebody who has become a danger to the community, they are put in jail or moved elsewhere. The Pitbull, as a breed, has become a danger to the people of Zimbabwe. Is there anything that stops us from banning the breed altogether? I believe this is the direction we need to take,” Mhangwa said.