Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Zimpapers Writer
VILLAGERS in Nsango 1 Village, Ward 22, Insiza District, have been left counting heavy losses after nine cattle were electrocuted by a fallen Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) power line.
The incident, which occurred last week, is the second of its kind in the area in two years, raising renewed safety concerns among villagers.
Two residents, Mr Nivas Dube and Mr Gumai Matola, lost three and six cattle respectively, with several of the animals being valuable heifers.
“I am devastated by this tragedy. Some of my cattle were second-year heifers, which makes this a double loss,” said Mr Dube.
Mr Matola said he was still struggling to come to terms with the loss of his livestock, noting that three of the six cattle were heifers.
“It is a huge loss to me. What worries us as villagers is that this is not the first time our livestock have fallen victim to these power cables,” he said.
Villagers also expressed concern over what they described as a slow response by the authorities after the incident was reported.
Mr Dube said that although the matter was reported to both the police and ZETDC, no officials attended to the scene immediately, while the police only arrived on Sunday when the carcasses had already begun to rot.
Ward 22 Councillor, Clr Kinana Hlongwane, said she was not aware of the incident as she had been out of the country for the past two weeks.
“I am hearing about this incident for the first time. I have been in South Africa for the past two weeks, but I will follow up and establish the full details of what happened,” said Clr Hlongwane.
A ZETDC supervisor in Insiza District, Mr Edmore Mutanda, confirmed the incident, saying investigations were still underway.
“We attended to the incident, but we are in the process of setting up an investigation team that will go on the ground to establish exactly what transpired. That is all I can say for now,” said Mr Mutanda.
The Insiza incident comes just three days after a similar tragedy in Mashonaland East Province, where seven cattle were electrocuted after a ZETDC electricity pole supporting live power lines collapsed in a grazing paddock.
