Lightning kills woman in Chasefu

A 56-year-old woman has been struck to death by lightning in Chasefu district in Eastern Province, bringing to three the number of people who have been killed by lightning in one month. Manda Hill ward counsellor Pethias Mkandawire has confirmed the incident to ZANIS in Chasefu yesterday and identified the deceased person as Kellyness Zimba of Chawamoyo village in senior chief Magodi’s area. Mr. Mkandawire said the woman was struck by lightning yesterday around 16.00 hours as she sat outside a makeshift kitchen at her home. According to Mr. Mkandawire, a few rain clouds were just starting to gather when the victim was struck by lightning. He said the relatives, who are now in shock over the incident, rushed Ms. Zimba to the nearest Khulmayembe health post where she was pronounced dead upon arrival. “People are confused with the sudden death of the woman because there were no rains in that area, but a little bit of rain clouds gathered in the atmosphere,” Mr. Mkandawire lamented. He disclosed that the body  was buried yesterday at Chawamoyo village burial site. Chasefu has recorded a total of eight incidents in which people have been struck by lightning in separate occurrences.  On December 15 last year, a 15-year-old boy of Emphambuka village in chief Phikamalaza died after lightning struck him, while his elder brother, who was also struck, was left nursing severe burns in Lundazi hospital where he was rushed.  The following day, a 13-year-old girl of David village in senior chief Magodi chiefdom also died after being struck by lightning. Earlier, on 8th December 2020, four people, two men and two women, were struck by lightning in Chasefu as they sought shelter from the rains in a nearby house. One man and a breastfeeding mother sustained burns while the   other wo suffered shocks caused by lightning. The four were workers at a housing project in the same village.