A 68-year-old security guard was found dead on Sunday with multiple injuries after he was mauled by four pit bull dogs at a business premises in Waterfalls, Harare.

Police have since launched investigations into the case and the man’s body was taken to a local hospital mortuary for post mortem.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.

“Police in Harare are investigating a sad incident in which a security guard, Takawira Gift Muzvidziwa aged 68 was found dead with multiple injuries all over the body on March 26, 2023 at business premises along Sherwood Crescent, Waterfalls.”

“The victim is suspected to have been mauled to death by four pit bull dogs,” he said.

Pit bull-type dogs have a controversial reputation as pets. Due to their history in dog fighting, the number of high-profile attacks documented in the media over decades has risen significantly.

American Pit Bull Terriers are not a good choice for people who can give them little or no attention. They must be trained and socialized when young to overcome the breed’s tendencies toward stubbornness and bossiness, which combined with his strength can make him hard to handle if he hasn’t learned you are in charge.

The South African Pitbull Federation in November last year commended pet owners – who surrendered their pitbulls to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). This was a move done because of a number of attacks involving this breed of dog.

In April last year, a 70-year-old Harare man was mauled to death by three vicious Boerboel dogs at a company premise in the Ardbennie area of Harare under unclear circumstances.

Last year, in South Africa a Potchefstroom woman’s ears, lips and nose were ripped off her face by her employer’s pit bulls, while another woman in Durban suffered horrific injuries from a pit bull mauling. Another incident, last year a pit bull killed a 3-year-old girl in Gqeberha, while two pit bulls mauled a 66-year-old Durbanville man to death.

According to the Injury Law Firm Fuicelli & Lee in Colorado, statistical sources show that, “From 2010 to June 2021, there were 430 fatal dog bites, with 185 of those coming from pit bulls, and another 41 that were pit bull mixes.”

In Zimbabwe there are laws which govern dogs, these are the Prevention of Animal Cruelty Act, Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and city by-laws like the Dogs and Licensing by-law of 1993 in Harare. All these laws are unclear on breeds and as such a pitbull is not classified as a dangerous breed in Zimbabwe.