A 15-year-old boy, Namata Namata, tragically lost his life after being electrocuted by Zesco electrical cables while bird hunting at Kalonga Farm in Lubombo area, Mazabuka. The incident occurred on March 17, 2025, between 12:00 and 15:30 hours.

According to Southern Province Police Commanding Officer Auxensio Daka, Namata left his parents’ home around noon with two juvenile friends, aged 8 and 9, for a bird hunting excursion about 2 kilometers away at Kalonga Farm.

During the hunt, Namata struck a bird with his catapult, and it became lodged in the 11kV electrical cables on a pole. When the bird failed to fall, Namata climbed the wooden pole to retrieve it but was electrocuted approximately 9 meters above the ground. He fell to the ground shortly after.

The two young witnesses ran back to inform Namata’s parents, who then alerted the police. Officers arrived at the scene to find the boy’s body lying in short grass near the pole. Upon inspection, a catapult was found in his left front pocket, along with a handful of small stones wrapped in the corner of his black shirt.

Namata sustained severe injuries, including a deep open wound on his right chest, as well as injuries to his right leg, left ankle, right wrist, and forearm. His body has been transported to Mazabuka General Hospital Mortuary, where it awaits a postmortem and burial.

The incident serves as a tragic reminder of the dangers of unprotected electrical cables and the need for caution in areas where such hazards exist.