ZESA ordered to pay US$66,000 after minors electrocuted
- Southerton Business Times
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
Bulawayo — The Bulawayo High Court has ordered state‑run ZESA Holdings to pay more than US$60,000 in compensation to two minors who sustained serious electrical burns after coming into contact with low‑hanging power cables, finding that the utility’s subsidiary acted with gross negligence.
Court rulings and awarded damages
Two judges, Justice Evangelista Kabasa and Justice Dube, delivered separate rulings in favour of the injured children, both from Mangwe in Matabeleland South. The cases were brought with legal assistance from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).
On 15 January 2026, Justice Dube ordered the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) — a ZESA subsidiary — to pay US$50,000 in damages to the family of an 11‑year‑old who was electrocuted on 18 May 2022 after encountering dangerously low‑hanging cables. The court gave ZETDC two months to settle the award.
In a separate matter, Justice Kabasa on 22 January 2026 directed ZETDC to pay US$16,000 to the family of a 14‑year‑old who suffered severe burns and required surgery. The minor was initially treated at St Anne’s Hospital in Brunapeg before transfer to United Bulawayo Hospitals, where he underwent an operation and was assessed with a 32% disability.
Together, the awards total US$66,000, reflecting the court’s finding that ZETDC’s failure to maintain safe infrastructure amounted to gross negligence.
Legal process and ZETDC response
Summons for the 11‑year‑old’s case were filed on 14 August 2024, with ZETDC denying liability on 16 September 2024, arguing the claim was excessive. For the 14‑year‑old, summons were filed on 8 August 2024; ZETDC initially denied responsibility but later offered US$16,000, citing insurance limits. The family accepted that offer, which was formalised by the court order.
ZLHR represented both minors, framing the litigation as part of its broader anti‑impunity work aimed at holding state institutions accountable for human rights violations and negligence.
Human rights group perspective and precedent
ZLHR said the cases form part of a long history of litigation against ZESA and its subsidiaries, noting the organisation has successfully secured damages for victims of electrical accidents in previous matters. The group emphasised that court‑ordered compensation serves both to redress individual harm and to deter future negligence by public utilities.
Implications for public safety and utility management
Legal observers say the rulings underscore the importance of routine maintenance, proper line clearance, and robust safety protocols for power utilities. The judgments may prompt ZESA and ZETDC to accelerate infrastructure inspections, improve community reporting mechanisms for hazardous lines, and review insurance and liability frameworks to ensure victims receive timely redress.
ZESA compensation minors electrical burns