Budiriro Electrocution Leaves Teen Dead — ZETDC Blames Rogue Contractor

A 19-year-old trainee was electrocuted in Budiriro after unauthorised power line work, with ZETDC blaming a rogue contractor for safety protocol breaches (image source)

A 19-year-old student on industrial attachment was fatally electrocuted on Wednesday in Budiriro 1 Extension after working on a medium-voltage line that, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) says, had not been authorised for repair or intervention by its crews. In a statement issued after the incident, ZETDC said the deceased was attached to a private contractor and that preliminary investigations indicated no permit or authorisation had been issued for any work on the affected MV line at that location. The utility extended its “deepest and most sincere condolences” to the family, friends and colleagues of the victim while emphasising that public and worker safety remained its highest priority.

ZETDC explicitly distanced itself from the operation, saying the contractor acted outside the company’s jurisdiction and safety protocols and that the power had been restored to the line while unauthorised work was under way, a lapse that appears to have contributed to the tragedy. The power company urged members of the public to engage only authorised ZETDC personnel for electrical work connected to the national grid to avoid similar incidents.

Local sources and eyewitness accounts described chaotic scenes at the site as emergency responders arrived, but details about the exact sequence of events remain under review as investigators seek to establish who switched the feeder back on and whether standard isolation procedures were observed. ZETDC said its preliminary technical inquiry would be followed by a more detailed probe in coordination with other authorities to determine culpability and systemic safety gaps. The identity of the deceased and the contractor involved have not been publicly disclosed, and ZETDC said it would not release names pending notification of next of kin and the outcome of initial inquiries. Community leaders in Budiriro called for swift accountability and stronger enforcement of licensing rules for contractors working on or near power infrastructure to prevent recurrence.

Power sector safety experts said the incident highlights longstanding risks when unlicensed or poorly supervised operators intervene on live distribution networks, pointing to inadequate permit controls, weak contractor vetting and occasional lapses in line isolation as recurring vulnerabilities in urban maintenance environments. They urged ZETDC and municipal authorities to fast-track stricter contractor accreditation, mandatory work permits and visible isolation tags at work sites.

Trade unions and youth groups demanded that the contractor be held to account and that companies that take on trainees ensure strict supervision and compliance with health and safety protocols, warning that informal attachments without proper oversight expose young people to avoidable hazards. ZETDC’s notice serves as both a condolence and a warning: the utility reiterated that only authorised crews have mandate, training and isolation procedures to work safely on the national grid and said it would cooperate fully with investigators to ensure lessons are learned and remedial safety measures implemented.