By Virginia Njovo
As cases of dog bites continue to increase Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Masvingo Urban collected a total of 45 stray dogs in June alone.
Masvingo Province SPCA Inspector John Chikomo, told TellZim News that the organization managed to collect the dogs despite operating with limited resources.
“We have managed to use the available resources to pick up stray dogs across the city as we try so hard to utilize available resources to reduce the number of dogs especially in the residential areas where numerous cases of bites are being recorded,” said Chikomo.
Chikomo said the organisation was waiting for Masvingo City Council to honor its promise to provide them with a vehicle for use to pick the dogs.
“We were told that we are going to get a vehicle which will help us in collecting the dogs, but we are yet to receive it, the one which we are using is small,” he said.
Masvingo City Council has come under the spotlight for delaying action on the stray dog menace, with many resolutions made by council committees yet to be implemented nearly a year later.
Contacted for comment regarding the vehicle, Masvingo City Mayor and ward 4, Councillor Alec Tabe told TellZim News that the vehicle was under maintenance and was ready for handover.
“There is a vehicle which will be given to SPCA to pick up stray dogs but it was undergoing maintenance but its now ready for handover,” said Tabe.
In November 2024, council resolved to engage the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) to help shoot stray dogs in the city in response to the increasing dog bite cases.
“Regarding the dog tie-up order, the request to engage the Zimbabwe National Army to shoot stray dogs in common areas was approved. The Public Relations Office was tasked with notifying residents about the operation,” reads part of the council minutes.
However, the resolution was never implemented. The council later resolved to procure a vehicle for the SPCA to use in a joint effort to address the menace.
Meanwhile, stray dog attacks remain a serious health concern. According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care’s Weekly Disease Surveillance Report, Masvingo recorded 26 dog bite cases in just one week. In January, the city recorded more than 100 dog bite cases.
The city council has also proposed drafting a by-law to empower the local authority to detain stray animals and fine their owners.
