A HEALTH and Child Care ministry Weekly Disease Surveillance Report for the week ended July 6, 2025 shows worrying trends about dog bites in the country.
The report showed that in one week, 456 people were bitten by dogs, with no reported deaths.
“Of the reported cases, 88 were bitten by vaccinated dogs, 95 by unvaccinated dogs and 273 by dogs of unknown status,” the report, posted by the ministry on X (formerly Twitter), read.
It stated that the highest number of dog bite cases reported was from the Midlands province (77) with Masvingo province coming second (66).
“The cumulative figures for dog bites are 15 771 cases and 0 deaths,” the update further read.
Last November, it was reported that Masvingo City Council had resolved to engage the Zimbabwe National Army to shoot stray dogs across the city as incidents of dog bites continued to rise in the country’s oldest town.
It was said the Health, Housing and Environmental Services Committee resolved that the city’s public relations office should notify residents of the tie-up order.
“On the dog tie-up order, the request to engage the Zimbabwe National Army at a cost for stray dog shooting in the commonage was granted, the public relations office was tasked to advise residents on the dog tie and shoot exercise,” the minutes read.
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Bulawayo City Council as well has made proposals to shoot dead stray dogs.
Town clerk Christopher Dube emphasised that the city’s by-laws strictly prohibit dog owners from allowing their pets to roam freely outside their properties.
“The City of Bulawayo has noted that there is an increasing number of people who are being bitten by stray dogs in the city,” he said, adding that this posed a serious public health risk, particularly the potential spread of rabies.
Dube urged residents to vaccinate their dogs against rabies and ensure they are properly licensed, in accordance with the Bulawayo (Dog Licensing and Control) By-Laws.
Chitungwiza, Gweru and several other local authorities have made similar calls to euthanise stray dogs.
Dog owners must have a habit of locking their dogs inside their yards.
Zimbabwe is faced with a huge challenge of people who want to keep many dogs which they cannot feed, leading to the pets being left to roam the streets in search of food, hence the high number of stray dogs.
Cases of fatalities have been reported, the latest being last month. Samuel Machara (39) was the victim of pitbull brutality.
His death in New Bluffhill, Harare, is not an isolated incident, there have been many others in the past.
Local authorities must take decisive action and put down stray dogs in all suburbs.
They must also enforce by-laws that restrict residents to own a certain number of dogs depending on the size of their yards.
As well, dog owners must also make sure their pets are vaccinated.
As Dube, the Bulawayo town clerk, was previously reported as saying, dog owners must ensure their yards are properly walled, fenced and gated, warning that hedges cannot be accepted as secure barriers.
In terms of compliance, residents are reminded of limits on the number of dogs they can legally keep.
No dog should be allowed to roam outside the yard without a restraint.
Households with more dogs than permitted are encouraged to voluntarily surrender the excess animals to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals before the tie-up order takes effect.
