Illegal Connection Claims Life of 7-Year-Old

Munyaradzi Mashiri- Court Correspondent

A Harare man has appeared in court after a 7-year-old girl was fatally electrocuted, allegedly due to illegal electrical connections made at his home.

Champion Mbatira ,35, the homeowner, and Andrew Mutandavare ,31, a tenant operating a barbershop on the premises, were arraigned before the Harare Magistrates' Court charged with culpable homicide.

According to the State, Mbatira made unsafe and illegal electrical connections in 2022, extending wiring from the main house to additional structures within his yard.

On the morning of April 10, 2024, an electrical fault occurred at the residence. Mbatira's wife, Sibongile Phiri, responded by switching off the main power supply. Shortly after, Mutandavare informed her that he had fixed the fault and instructed her to switch the power back on, which she did.

Around 8:30 AM the same day, a 7-year-old girl, who was playing at the property, touched the screen door of an on-site tuckshop and was electrocuted. She was rushed to Norton Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

A post-mortem revealed the cause of death as electric shock.

Following the incident, experts from ZESA inspected the premises and confirmed the existence of illegal and hazardous electrical connections.

The State alleges that the negligence of the two men in making and maintaining the unsafe connections directly led to the child’s death.