adminMidlands Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has intensified household power connection inspection in Gweru following the death of two people as a result of an illegal power connection. The power company official said the workers conducting the inspections were disconnecting all illegal connections as part of measures to safeguard consumers. A woman and a Grade Six girl from Ascot suburb were electrocuted while bathing.
The official said the inspection exercise had by yesterday covered Ascot and Mtapa suburbs.
“We have intensified our inspection exercise and so far we have moved to Mkoba suburb. We have already inspected Mtapa and Ascot suburbs. We recorded high cases of illegal power connections in Mtapa and as a result several houses were disconnected,” said the official.
ZEDTC southern region general manager Engineer King Dube confirmed the exercise.
He could, however, not give the number of households, which were disconnected saying he was out of office.
“The inspection exercise is going on in all the suburbs but I am out of office, hence I cannot give you the statistics. Our aim is to flush out illegal power connections so that we avoid exposing residents to danger,” said Eng Dube.
Ms Lovenenss Pedzesai (56) and the 13-year-old girl, Unity Masarira were electrocuted while bathing in a toilet at their rented house in Ascot.
Investigations by the police revealed that the electrocution was a result of an illegal power connection at a neighbour’s house.
derick.khumalo