By Thandiwe Garusa
THE Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has blamed a private contractor for failing to adhere to safety procedures following the fatal electrocution of a 19-year-old student in Budiriro 1 Extension, Harare.
The student, who was on an industrial attachment, was electrocuted on Wednesday after power was restored to a line he was working on.
In a statement issued Thursday, ZETDC clarified that the deceased was not one of its employees.
“ZETDC extends its deepest and most sincere condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the 19-year-old student, who was reportedly attached to a private contractor,” read the statement.
According to the company, preliminary investigations revealed that no permit or authorisation had been issued for work on the affected Medium Voltage (MV) line, and that the contractor had acted independently.
“ZETDC’s preliminary investigations have established that ZETDC had not issued a permit or authorisation for any work on the MV line at this location. The contractor was operating outside of ZETDC’s jurisdiction and safety protocols,” said the power utility.
The company urged the public to engage it directly for any electrical work involving its infrastructure so as to ensure compliance with safety standards.
“The safety of our customers and the public remains our highest priority. We urge everyone to engage ZETDC for all electrical works on the electricity grid,” added the statement.