ZESA to Fork out US$15 000 for Gross Negligence

ZESA to Fork out US$15 000 for Gross Negligence

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ZIMBABWE’S state-run power utility, ZESA Holdings, will fork out US$15 000 as compensation for damages to a minor child, who was electrocuted and sustained severe electrical burns owing to gross negligence by the electricity supplier.

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 percent.

The minor’s parents were assisted by Kevin Kabaya of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who on 16 September 2022, wrote a letter of demand to Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, demanding payment amounting to US$15 000 as compensation for damages suffered by the 13 year-old child.

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.

Now, ZETDC through its insurers 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.

ZLHR intervened in assisting the minor child as part of its anti-impunity strategies to foster accountability at the country’s supplier of electricity and to deter and discourage acts of human rights violations by state-run institutions.

ENDS

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
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Email: info@zlhr.org.zw
www.zlhr.org.zw
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