Teen electrocuted while stealing Zesa cables

Source: Teen electrocuted while stealing Zesa cables – NewsDay Zimbabwe

By PRIVELEDGE GUMBODETE
A MARONDERA teenager (15) was electrocuted and died on April 17 while attempting to steal Zesa copper cables from a 200kV transformer.

A leaked police memorandum dated April 17 seen by NewsDay, showed that the minor (name withheld) was accompanied by two friends aged 13 years and 11 years when the incident happened.

“The boy residing at Dombotombo Flats in Marondera was electrocuted on 17 April 2022 in a case related to theft and vandalism. Apparently, the victim climbed an H-pole structure and attempted to cut off a red phase jumper connected to a 200kV transformer leading to the accident. The juvenile was accompanied by his two friends aged 11 and 13,” read the police memo.

“The cut jumper is about three metres and is valued at US$25. The deceased body was taken to Marondera Mortuary,” the memo added.

Zesa says it lost US$4,4 million worth of equipment last year through vandalism, and US$4,3 million the previous year.