Two contract workers from the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), including a 15-year-old Mozambican, tragically lost their lives due to electrocution while performing their duties in Hlabiso Village, Rusitu, Chimanimani, last Wednesday.
The victims were identified as Erai Raimon, a Mozambican national, and Givemore Maphosa from Mashiri Village in Maridheya. They were working on a Lower Tension (LT) line that connects the Hlabiso main line to the Jozi homestead in the same area.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka, the acting spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Manicaland, confirmed the incident to the Manica Post. He stated that the two workers were electrocuted while on duty after their supervisor reportedly assigned them the task without ensuring that the power supply to the line was shut off.
Read: US$4.5 Million Stolen from Harare Quarry, But No Police Report Filed – Mayor Mafume
The two workers were employed by Hidden Well Contractors, a company owned by Richard Mushayanembeu. According to Chinyoka, on January 22, at around 7 AM, Givemore Maphosa and Erai Raimon, both general hand workers, were instructed to repair an LT line from the Hlabiso main line to Jozi homestead, following the fall of a nine-meter electrical pole. They were under the supervision of their manager, Tawanda Matsatswa. While they were digging a hole for the pole, Matsatswa left to gather additional help but failed to switch off the power supply to the main line.
Although there was an electricity blackout in the area at the time, power was unexpectedly restored while the workers were still on site. When Matsatswa returned, he discovered the bodies of the two workers on the ground, still in contact with the live power lines. He immediately switched off the power at the main line.
Matsatswa informed Mushayanembeu, who then reported the incident to ZRP Chimanimani. Authorities, along with ZETDC officials, arrived at the scene and observed electrical burns on the victims’ hands and legs. Their bodies were subsequently taken to Chipinge District Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
For comments, Feedback and Opinions do get in touch with our editor on WhatsApp: +44 7949 297606.