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Boy battles for life after electrocution
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A 13-year-old boy from Hurungwe is fighting for his life after being electrocuted last week by low-hanging power lines that had reportedly gone unattended for over a year.
The boy, identified as Nyasha Nyamukuyamba of Village Charinda under Chief Matau in ward 25, was herding cattle when he came into contact with live electricity cables linking Denderedzi and Zvipani business centres.
According to villagers, the power lines had been left sagging dangerously close to the ground, and many assumed they were inactive.
Local councillor Tedius Nyamukumba confirmed the incident, saying Nyasha was unaware the cables were live.
"He was playing and came into contact with the lines. Villagers believed they were switched off since they are within communities. He suffered multiple injuries to his arms, leg and stomach," he said.
After the electrocution, villagers scrambled for nearly 30 minutes to secure transport to Zvipani Clinic, about 75km west of Karoi. The boy was later transferred to Hurungwe District Hospital, then Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital, before being referred to Harare for specialist care.
A villager, Zvatanga Ngandini, blamed the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) for neglecting the lines.
"These power lines have been left unattended for almost one and a half years. They are a danger to humans and livestock," he said.
ZETDC northern region general manager Lovemore Chinaka confirmed the incident and said investigations were underway.
"Preliminary reports indicate that the line developed a fault and part of it was isolated. Some conductors on the dead side were cut by an unknown person, possibly through vandalism. This caused the H-pole structure to lean towards the live side, bringing live wires to about 1,5 metres above ground level," he explained.
Chinaka noted that while protection devices usually cut off power when lines touch the ground or earthed objects, live conductors lying low may remain active.
"That's why we always advise the public to treat any fallen lines or low-lying wires as live at all times," he said.
Police have since attended the scene together with ZETDC officials from Karoi.
The boy, identified as Nyasha Nyamukuyamba of Village Charinda under Chief Matau in ward 25, was herding cattle when he came into contact with live electricity cables linking Denderedzi and Zvipani business centres.
According to villagers, the power lines had been left sagging dangerously close to the ground, and many assumed they were inactive.
Local councillor Tedius Nyamukumba confirmed the incident, saying Nyasha was unaware the cables were live.
"He was playing and came into contact with the lines. Villagers believed they were switched off since they are within communities. He suffered multiple injuries to his arms, leg and stomach," he said.
After the electrocution, villagers scrambled for nearly 30 minutes to secure transport to Zvipani Clinic, about 75km west of Karoi. The boy was later transferred to Hurungwe District Hospital, then Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital, before being referred to Harare for specialist care.
A villager, Zvatanga Ngandini, blamed the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) for neglecting the lines.
"These power lines have been left unattended for almost one and a half years. They are a danger to humans and livestock," he said.
ZETDC northern region general manager Lovemore Chinaka confirmed the incident and said investigations were underway.
"Preliminary reports indicate that the line developed a fault and part of it was isolated. Some conductors on the dead side were cut by an unknown person, possibly through vandalism. This caused the H-pole structure to lean towards the live side, bringing live wires to about 1,5 metres above ground level," he explained.
Chinaka noted that while protection devices usually cut off power when lines touch the ground or earthed objects, live conductors lying low may remain active.
"That's why we always advise the public to treat any fallen lines or low-lying wires as live at all times," he said.
Police have since attended the scene together with ZETDC officials from Karoi.
Source - The Chronicle
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