Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Zimpapers Senior Reporter
VILLAGERS in Nsango 1 Village, Ward 22, Insiza, are counting their losses after nine cattle were electrocuted by a Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) power line that broke off from a pole.
The tragic incident, which occurred last week, is the second such case in two years in the same area. In 2024, four cattle were also killed after being struck by a live power line.
The pictures are too graphic to share.
This time, two villagers — Mr Nivas Dube and Mr Gumai Matola — lost three and six cattle respectively, some of them second-year heifers.
“I am devastated by this tragedy. Some of my cattle were second-year heifers and this is more of a double loss to me,” said Mr Dube.
Mr Matola said he was still trying to come to terms with the loss of his cattle, three of them heifers, and questioned whether ZETDC would compensate them.
“It is a huge loss to me. We are, however, concerned as villagers that this is not the first time our livestock have become victims of these cables here,” said Mr Matola.
Mr Dube added that villagers were also disturbed by what they described as a delayed response from authorities. He said despite reporting the incident to the police and ZETDC on Tuesday, the day the tragedy occurred, ZETDC officials only attended to the scene on Thursday, while police reportedly arrived on Sunday when the carcasses had already started to decompose.
Villagers have called on ZETDC to urgently repair and properly maintain power infrastructure in the area to prevent further loss of livestock and potential risk to human life.
More details to follow…
