The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings has reportedly agreed to pay US$15 000 as compensation for damages to a minor child who was electrocuted in April 2019.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said the juvenile was electrocuted and sustained severe electrical burns due to gross negligence by ZETDC. Said ZLHR:
The 13-year-old minor child was left nursing extensive injuries to his right upper limbs including permanent and irreversible injuries, which he suffered due to electrocution in April 2019 while medical doctors estimated his impairment percentage at 20%.
On 16 September 2022, ZLHR’s Kelvin Kabaya wrote a letter of demand to ZETDC on behalf of the minor’s parents demanding payment amounting to US$15 000 as compensation for damages suffered by the 13-year-old child. The human rights lawyers said:
The minor child was electrocuted by some exposed electricity cables, which were left hanging dangerously low and within reach of people at his parents’ residence in Penhalonga in Manicaland province. As a result of the accident, the child suffered severe electrical burns.
Kabaya told ZETDC that it was to blame for the unfortunate accident, which was caused by negligence on the part of its employees, who negligently left exposed electrical cables thereby endangering vulnerable children.
ZLHR added that ZETDC has, through its insurer, Cell Insurance, recently advised Kabaya that it had accepted the minor child’s claim and would pay him US$15 000 as compensation for the damages which he suffered from the electrocution.