adminFreedom Mupanedemo Midlands Correspondent
A sombre atmosphere yesterday engulfed Ascot suburb in Gweru as residents struggled to come to terms with the death of two tenants at the same house who were electrocuted while bathing.The two, Ms Loveness Pedzesai (56) and a teenager, Unity Masarira (13) both tenants at House Number 313 Fusire Road, were electrocuted while bathing in a toilet cum bathroom on Tuesday morning.
Pedzesai and Unity were not related. Ms Pedzisai was preparing to go to work while the Unity was preparing to go to school.
The owner of the house accused Zesa of failing to conduct routine checks on residential properties, a development which she said caused the fatal incident.
When a Chronicle news crew visited the house, hundreds of mourners were gathered at the house waiting for the arrival of the two bodies from Bulawayo where they had been taken for post-mortem.
Ms Shamiso Hamadziripi, daughter of the owner of the house, said her family was still failing to come to terms with the death of their tenants.
She said the family was contemplating taking legal action against Zesa for failing to conduct routine checks of possible illegal power connections on residential properties.
“We are saddened by the death of our tenants. Ms Pedzesai and Unity were not only tenants but were now part of the family. Zesa used to conduct routine checks on power connections but they have since stopped the exercise. We are very worried because this tragedy could have been avoided,” said Ms Hamadziripi.
She said on the fateful day, Ms Pedzesai, who was employed by Gweru City Council was bathing together with the teenager when tragedy struck.
“The two were running behind time and decided to bath together. Ms Pedzesai was preparing to go to work while the girl wanted to go to school. When they were still bathing, I heard screams and I rushed to the toilet to investigate,” she said.
Ms Hamadziripi said they could not rescue the two because the whole toilet was now live causing electric shocks. She said when they finally managed to force their way into the bathroom, the two had collapsed.
Ms Hamadziripi said Ms Pedzesai was likely to be buried today at Mtapa Cemetery while Unity was expected to be buried at her rural home in Bikita.
“We are still waiting for their bodies from Bulawayo where they had been taken for a post-mortem,” she said
Meanwhile, the other tenant, Ms Fortunate Masvikeni who tried to rescue the two is said to be battling for life at Gweru Provincial Hospital.
Police and the ZETDC officials said preliminary investigations revealed that the electric shocks, which killed Ms Pedzesai and Unity were a result of illegal power connections from a neighbouring house.
ZETDC general manager, for the southern region Engineer King Dube said the power utility has since handed over the matter to the police for further investigations. “Lawfully, our investigations as a power utility ends at the meter. Anything beyond that would be a police case as is the case in this incident.
What we established was that at a neighbouring house, there were some illegal power connections which bypassed our meter. We have since handed over the matter to the police,” said Mr Dube.
Online Reporter