A 15-year-old boy in Mazabuka has tragically lost his life due to electrocution by Zesco power lines while attempting to retrieve a bird. The shocking accident occurred on March 17, 2025, at Kalonga Farm in Lubombo.
According to Southern Province Commissioner of Police, Auxensio Daka, the deceased, identified as Namata Namata, left home at noon with two juvenile friends, aged 8 and 9, for a bird-hunting expedition about 2 kilometers away.
Namata successfully struck a bird using a catapult, but the bird got entangled in 11-kilovolt electrical cables. Attempting to retrieve it, he climbed a wooden electricity pole but unfortunately came into contact with live power lines, leading to a fatal electric shock. He fell from a height of 9 meters, sustaining multiple injuries.
His terrified young companions rushed to inform his parents, and his father, 41-year-old Sendoi Namata, reported the incident to Mazabuka police.
Upon arrival, authorities found the teenager’s body near the electricity pole, lying in the short grass. A preliminary police report detailed severe injuries, including a deep chest wound, leg injuries, and trauma to the wrist and forearm. The presence of foam and saliva around his mouth and nose confirmed electrocution as the cause of death.
Police recovered catapults and small stones wrapped in the deceased’s black shirt, confirming he had been hunting birds. His remains have been taken to Mazabuka General Hospital Mortuary, awaiting postmortem examination and burial arrangements.
This tragic accident highlights the dangers of electricity infrastructure. Authorities urge parents to educate children on electrical safety and avoid climbing power poles.
