Prince Mafu of Emakhandeni, Bulawayo died after he was electrocuted by overhead power cables while fetching lemons from a tree to spice mealie-meal porridge.
It is reported that the form one student died instantly and was stuck on a mango tree until personnel from ZESA switched off power for him to be brought down. The mango tree that he had climbed is next to a lemon tree and both are directly under a power line.
We literally saw him getting burnt to death. The electricity consumed him while we watched. We were helpless. We could not do anything. He was too high up in the trees and neighbours called for ambulances and police but it was too late.
The long wire he was using was not stable. It was going back and forth and the ripe lemons are now higher up the tree. So he climbed a mango tree which grows next to the lemon tree and got to the top. Somehow he failed to control the wire and it came into contact with the power cables. There is a transformer outside our yard.
Prince’s mother who is expecting her fourth child got into premature labour as she failed to come to terms with the tragedy.
More: The Chronicle
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