admin
Freedom Mupanedemo
THREE people accused of making an illegal electricity connection which resulted in the electrocution of two people were yesterday arraigned before a Gweru magistrate Ms Sithembiso Ncube facing a culpable homicide charge.
The three, Stella Mapuranga (38), Innocent Mushayi (51) both of 311 Fusire Road Ascot suburb in Gweru and Shepherd Matumba of 391 Foya Road in the same suburb, pleaded not guilty to the offence.
They were remanded out of custody on their own cognisance to 12 November.
For the State, Ms Hellen Khosa told the court that on an unknown date, the three who were into chicken breeding made an illegal electricity connection from their house to their fowl run.
The illegal power connection had a live wire connected to their house’s perimeter fence, the court was told.
Ms Khosa said the illegal power connection then resulted in a neigbour’s perimeter fence becoming live as well.
She said two neighbours, Ms Loveness Pedzesai (56) and a 13 year-old girl, Unity Masarira went to their bathroom-cum toilet detached to the house intending to have a bath.
The court was told that while in the toilet, the two received some electric shocks emanating from a water tap.
They screamed for help and eventually collapsed on the floor.
Neighbours broke the bathroom-cum toilet door and took the two out.
Ms Pedzesai and Unity were rushed to Gweru Provincial Hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
The matter was reported to the police who attended to the scene.
Investigations by the police and Zesa officials revealed that the two’s death was a result of an illegal power connection.
Online Reporter