Tendai Nyambara
Members of Parliament have called for a nationwide ban on pitbulls in Zimbabwe, citing rising fatalities and the breed’s perceived threat to public safety.
The call came during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, 11 June 2025, where legislators debated the Government’s current policy on the ownership and control of dangerous dogs.
Honourable Chipo Karimatsenga-Nyamupinga (ZANU-PF) sparked the debate, expressing alarm over recent deadly attacks involving pitbulls in residential areas.
“When moving in the bush we fear being killed by wild animals, but when we are moving in residential areas there are dogs such as the pitbull. The pitbull is killing people,” she said. “That dog does not listen to instructions from the owner.”
In response, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Hon. Ziyambi Ziyambi, acknowledged existing municipal by-laws requiring dog licences but clarified that pitbulls need special permits due to their aggressive nature.
“We have a law through the councils which clearly states that when someone is keeping dogs, they must have a licence… The pitbull needs a licence which is different from other types of dogs because it is a very vicious dog,” he said.
However, Karimatsenga-Nyamupinga pushed further, questioning why people are allowed to keep animals she described as potentially unstable.
“Yes, the licence can be there, but we have that type of dog which loses its memory. What are we trying to say if we are allowing people to keep dogs which lose their memory? What are we saying about the lives of people?” she asked.
Ziyambi said the question of whether pitbulls lose memory would require expert veterinary input.
“May the Hon. Member put the question in writing so that we can go and consult the experts,” he added.
Animal behaviour experts, however, have consistently dismissed claims that pitbulls “lose their memory.” According to veterinary professionals, there is no scientific basis for this belief. Pitbulls, like other dogs, have strong associative memory, and aggression is more commonly linked to poor training or abuse.
“This is a myth. Pit bulls don’t lose their memory—what they need is responsible ownership,” said Dr. Nyasha Dube, a Harare-based veterinarian.
The debate intensified when Hon. Engineer Mhangwa weighed in, urging the government to take firmer action.
“If we have somebody who has become a danger to the community, he is put in jail or put somewhere else. The pitbull as a breed has become a danger to the people of Zimbabwe. Is there anything that stops us from banning the breed within the country?” he said.
The Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Jacob Mudenda, advised that the matter be submitted in writing for further review and engagement with relevant ministries and experts.
As of now, Zimbabwe does not have a national law banning specific dog breeds. Regulations around dog ownership fall under municipal by-laws, which require licences and set limits on the number and types of dogs per household.
The call for a ban reflects growing public concern and may set the stage for legislative reforms in animal control and public safety.
