News / Local
Electrocuted teen's family demands compensation from BCC
23 Dec 2013 at 02:33hrs | Views
A Magwegwe North family is demanding compensation from the Bulawayo city council (BCC) after their 17-year-old boy who was electrocuted after touching an exposed electric cord at a soccer field .
The teenager, Shepherd Mpala, was electrocuted while playing football with his mates.
He was trying to reach out for his soccer boots at the base of a tower light when the tragedy struck. In an interview with Chronicle on Friday, the boy's aunt Angeline Phiri, said the family had obtained a post mortem, which indicated that he died as a result of electrocution.
"After the funeral we obtained a post mortem and a death certificate, which clearly indicated that my nephew died as a result of electrocution.
"We approached Zesa and we were told that tower lights were under the management of the city council. We have since started efforts to discuss the way forward as we seek compensation for the tragic loss we suffered," said Phiri.
She said the family wanted to talk to the council management before it could take any legal action.
"We were anticipating an explanation and an apology from the city council but they did not say anything. The mayor (Councillor Martin Moyo) came to the funeral but we were shocked when he produced a cord from his pocket and started lecturing mourners, saying there was no way it could be dangerous to people," said Phiri.
She added: "We felt it was unfair for the mayor to utter such words at a time when we were grieving and mourning the loss of our child.
"We went to the council offices and we were told that he was not in, together with the Town Clerk. We hope that when we return next week we will get positive results and be compensated for the loss of our child, whose death could have been avoided."
Efforts to get a comment from Clr Moyo were fruitless as his phone went unanswered yesterday.
The teenager, Shepherd Mpala, was electrocuted while playing football with his mates.
He was trying to reach out for his soccer boots at the base of a tower light when the tragedy struck. In an interview with Chronicle on Friday, the boy's aunt Angeline Phiri, said the family had obtained a post mortem, which indicated that he died as a result of electrocution.
"After the funeral we obtained a post mortem and a death certificate, which clearly indicated that my nephew died as a result of electrocution.
"We approached Zesa and we were told that tower lights were under the management of the city council. We have since started efforts to discuss the way forward as we seek compensation for the tragic loss we suffered," said Phiri.
She said the family wanted to talk to the council management before it could take any legal action.
"We were anticipating an explanation and an apology from the city council but they did not say anything. The mayor (Councillor Martin Moyo) came to the funeral but we were shocked when he produced a cord from his pocket and started lecturing mourners, saying there was no way it could be dangerous to people," said Phiri.
She added: "We felt it was unfair for the mayor to utter such words at a time when we were grieving and mourning the loss of our child.
"We went to the council offices and we were told that he was not in, together with the Town Clerk. We hope that when we return next week we will get positive results and be compensated for the loss of our child, whose death could have been avoided."
Efforts to get a comment from Clr Moyo were fruitless as his phone went unanswered yesterday.
Source - Chronicle
