Parliament staff asks for compensation for being stuck in lift

A parliamentary usher is demanding compensation from his employers for being stuck in a lift for 30 minutes, forcing him to collapse and faint.

Gilbert Mwanyongwa was trapped in a lift following a power surge.

“I was really frightened, there was no air, there was darkness,” said Mwonyonga.

He said he would die in the lift as it took time for the rescue team to get him out.

When the power was restored and the doors of the lift opened, he was already unconscious and was rushed to the clinic within the parliament building where he was resuscitated.

He is in good health.

However, he said he will press for compensation from parliament.

Parliament spokesperson Leonard Mengezi said parliament has nothing to do with the power surges.

“It is the problem with Escom,” he said.

He said the parliament building power generator failed to pick after the power surges, rendering the whole building without power.

The passing of the mid term budget was negatively affected by the power outages.