Bulawayo – The local power utility, ZESA Holdings, has been ordered to pay $66 000 to two victims who suffered severe electrical burns after coming into contact with low-hanging power cables, in what the court described as gross negligence.
Bulawayo High Court Judges Justice Evangelista Kabasa and Justice Dube handed down the rulings, holding Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a ZESA subsidiary, liable for the injuries sustained by the two vixtims, aged 11 and 14, from Mangwe in Matabeleland Province.
ZESA Ordered To Compensate the Victims
The incidents occurred on 18 May 2022, when both minors were electrocuted by exposed electricity cables. Represented by ZLHR lawyer Prisca Dube, the families filed lawsuits seeking compensation for the injuries, medical expenses, and the long-term impact of the accidents.
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In the case of the 11-year-old, Justice Dube ruled on 15 January 2026 that ZETDC must pay US$50 000 in damages within two months.
The 14-year-old sustained more severe injuries, including electrical burns requiring surgery at United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH), and was declared to have a 32% cumulative disability. Following settlement negotiations constrained by ZETDC’s insurance coverage, Justice Kabasa ordered US$16 000 to be paid within 60 days.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) assisted both families, highlighting the power utility’s repeated negligence over the years and emphasising the need for accountability. ZLHR has a long record of litigating against ZESA Holdings to protect victims of state negligence.
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