Zesa man stoned for disconnecting electricity

By Andile Tshuma

A 26 year old Bulawayo man allegedly pelted a Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) worker with stones after he disconnected electricity at his home.

Fidelity Ndimande of Cowdray Park appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Ms Tancy Dube charged with obstructing a public officer.

He pleaded guilty and was remanded to October 22 for sentence.

For the state, Ms Margret Takawira said on Thursday, Mr Phathisa Dube was on duty, going around Cowdray Park suburb disconnecting electricity for non-paying clients.

“On October 13 this year at around 11AM, the complainant was on duty and wanted to disconnect electricity from the accused person’s house as he had been by-passing the meter and not paying,” said Ms Takawira.

“The accused person became angry and turned violent. He grabbed car keys from the complainant’s vehicle.

He forcibly removed a ladder that Mr Dube had used to climb an electricity pole to effect disconnection and threatened to beat up the complainant.” The court heard that Mr Dube ignored the threats and proceeded with his mission.

“The complainant took the ladder, climbed up and disconnected power supply after Zesa control loss officers attended the scene. Ndimande started picking up stones and throwing them at the complainant,” said the prosecutor.

The police were called to the scene, leading to Ndimande’s arrest. Chronicle