BULAWAYO province has recorded an increase in dog bites with council expressing concern over the failure of pet owners to secure their animals.
According to latest council minutes, director of health services Edwin Sibanda reported that 64 dog bite injuries were recorded in January alone.
“Ten dog notices were issued and the dog owners were educated on the legal requirements for keeping dogs in the city,” the minutes read.
“Council in partnership with the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the Department of Veterinary Services is planning for a tie-up order that puts to sleep stray dogs terrorising residents.”
“This tie-up order will be a response to the increasing number of stray dogs in the city. The tie-up order exercise was awaiting budget approval for the procurement of ammunition. Two rabies cases were reported in the city in 2024.”
Town clerk Christopher Dube said by-laws would be enforced and, in some cases, the tie-up order would come into force.
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“Investigations were carried out to determine if the dogs were licensed, were they kept in proper premises. The vaccination records were also checked. SPCA was also engaged to assess the animals,” Sibanda said.
“If the animal was deemed dangerous, it was put to sleep, while others were taken in at SPCA.
“The victim resident was required to be attended to at a health institution. The average cost of treatment was more than US$25.”
Chamber secretary Sikhangele Zhou urged councillors to engage residents and support the enforcement of by-laws.
Indications were that at Nkulumane’s Sekusile shopping centre in ward 22, a council enforcement team met a hostile and violent crowd that attacked officers, who later managed to do their work.
The minutes state that councillors raised concern over illegal dumping of litter in residential areas.
The councillors said there were illegal dumpsites at some commercial centres such as the one at Sekusile shopping centre, which was very close to a community borehole.
The city fathers requested council to effectively enforce by-laws to stop illegal dumping.
They also urged community truckers to improve service delivery on waste collection.
Councillor Ntombizodwa Khumalo said the committee responsible should establish a strategy to stop illegal dumping and littering.
“Previously, it was agreed to clear all illegal dumps and thereafter, lease out the pieces of land for titivation,” she said.
