Bystander’s Testicles Mauled in Mushikashika Operation Gone Wrong

MASVINGO — A man is receiving treatment at Masvingo Provincial Hospital after being viciously bitten on his private parts by police dogs during a police operation targeting illegal pirate taxis, locally known as mushikashika, on Friday evening.

The incident occurred in the city centre when police attempted to impound a vehicle driven by a man identified as Dhorobha.

In a dramatic effort to resist arrest, Dhorobha reportedly threw himself under his car.

Officers then unleashed police dogs to subdue him, but the animals turned on a bystander who had stopped to watch the confrontation.

The man, whose identity remains unknown, was mauled on his testicles and is currently hospitalized, with police maintaining a presence at the facility — not as a suspect, but reportedly for security and procedural reasons.

Reporters from Midweek Watch who visited the hospital observed the victim struggling to walk, with visibly swollen injuries to his groin area.

Eyewitnesses said the situation quickly escalated when a Thunderun towing truck contracted by police was damaged by an angry mob.

The officers fled the scene, and Dhorobha managed to escape with his vehicle.

Masvingo Provincial Police spokesperson Inspector Kudakwashe Dhewa initially confirmed the incident, stating, “I am not in the office for full details,” and promised to issue a full statement on Sunday morning.

However, as of Monday, no official comment has been released, raising further concern over the handling of the operation and the silence from authorities.