-as 2 are electrocuted in Chimanimani
MIDWEEK REPORTER
CHIMANIMANI-The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has warned its customers to treat all circuits as live even during power outages, load shedding or maintenance period.
The warning was issued by ZETDC eastern region general manager, Eng Rodwell Munodawafa following the electrocution of two people in Chimanimani recently.
“ZETDC encourages customers to treat all circuits as live be it during load shedding or faults in order to avoid electrocution as power may be restored any time,” said Munodawafa.
Manicaland Province acting police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka told The Midweek Watch that on January 22, Tawanda Matatsva (26) of Hlabiso Village under Chief Ngorima in Chimanimani assigned Givemore Maphosa (33) from the same area and Erai Raimon (15) of Mashiri Village, Maridheya in Mozambique to repair low tension line (LT).
Matatsva is a supervisor employed by Hidden Well Contractors owned by Richard Mushayanembeu of Hlabiso Village and the company is contracted by ZETDC.
On the fateful day, Erai and Givemore who were employed as general hands were given duties by Matatsva to repair LT line from Hlabiso Primary School to Joz homestead at around 7am.
A 9metre electrical poll had fallen and Matatsva left the two digging a hole and went to look for more manpower to help complete the task, but did not switch off the socket despite the fact that there was no electricity.
At around 7:40am power supply was restored while the two were working on the LT line and Erai and Givemore were electrocuted.
When the supervisor came back at around the same time he found the two’s bodies lying on the ground and he rushed to switch off power.
Matatsva and the Mushayanembeu reported the matter to ZRP Chimanimani who attended the scene together with ZETDC officials.
The bodies were taken to Chipinge General Hospital for the procedural postmortem.
