ZESA Engages Family of Man Injured in Electrocution

By Southerton Business Times Reporter, Harare

ZESA Holdings says it is engaging Norest Murewa and his family over compensation and support for life-changing injuries he suffered in an electrocution accident 15 years ago. In a statement issued on 20 October 2026, the electricity utility said Murewa’s case was being handled through its insurers and established procedures, following renewed public pressure over his circumstances.

Murewa was eight years old when he was electrocuted by live electricity cables left on the ground after power poles were accidentally burnt down. Now 23, he lives without both arms and one leg.

The case has attracted widespread attention after social media personality Royal Mint published an open letter to ZESA on 12 October, calling for compensation and meaningful assistance for Murewa, who she said had gone without either for 15 years. Royal Mint appealed to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), ZESA’s distribution subsidiary, to reconsider the matter and help improve Murewa’s quality of life.

“No amount of money can restore what he lost, but compensation and support could help him live with dignity and ease some of the burdens he faces every day,” she wrote. The appeal prompted widespread online reactions, with members of the public urging the electricity utility to address the family’s concerns.

ZESA Says Insurers Are Handling the Matter

In its response, ZESA confirmed that Murewa and his family were engaging with the company’s insurers through their legal representatives. “Norest and his family, through their legal representatives, are engaging with our insurers through the established processes,” the company said.

ZESA added that its representatives had met Murewa and his family to explain the process and the steps involved. The utility acknowledged that the process had taken longer than desired and pledged to maintain open communication with the family while working towards a fair conclusion as promptly as possible.

However, ZESA declined to disclose further details, citing Murewa’s privacy and the integrity of the ongoing process. The statement confirms that discussions are taking place, but it does not announce a compensation agreement, payment or settlement date.

For Murewa and his family, the engagement marks a renewed focus on a case that has remained unresolved in the public eye for years. Whether the process will result in compensation and practical support remains to be seen. The matter also highlights the importance of electrical safety and the potential long-term consequences when damaged power infrastructure leaves live cables exposed to the public.

Norest Murewa ZESA compensation