A two-year-old boy from Esigodini died at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo after five dogs viciously attacked him, chewed off his ears and bit him all over the body while his mother was penning goats at a nearby kraal.

Three of the dogs belonged to the owners of the homestead while the other two were from another homestead in the same village.

The incident, which was confirmed by Matabeleland South police spokesperson, Inspector Tafanana Dzirutwe occurred at Maluzaphi resettlement area on 16 June which is incidentally, the Day of the African Child.

Insp Dzirutwe said the boy's mother, Miss Thobekile Dube heard him screaming while she was penning goats and rushed to chase the dogs away but discovered that he had been severely wounded. Insp Dzirutwe said the dogs bit off the baby's two ears and left him with a deep cut on the neck and wounds all over the body.

"The baby sustained a deep cut on the right side of the neck and several wounds all over the body, while his ears were torn off. An ambulance was called and took the baby to Mpilo Central Hospital where he died the next day."