Tinotenda Hove – A 50-year-old Mberengwa man, Nhamo Zhou of Vurayayi Village under Chief Nyamondo, has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison after being convicted of culpable homicide by the Zvishavane Magistrates’ Court.

The case stems from an incident on 20 October 2025, when a young girl was bitten by an unmuzzled female dog belonging to Zhou while she was playing alone in her yard. After the attack, the child’s mother chased the dog away and discovered that the victim had suffered a deep cut above her left eye. Zhou’s wife was informed and assisted with the medical bills.

However, on 2 November 2025, the child’s condition deteriorated. She began vomiting and frothing at the mouth and nose, and was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital. A post-mortem report later confirmed that she died from acute cardiorespiratory failure and rabies infection.

Zhou was subsequently arrested after failing to produce a vaccination card for his dog, leading to his conviction and sentencing.