Deadliest Ferry Disaster in Zimbabwe’s History

A memorial service was held at a stadium in Kariba last week to pay tribute to the victims of the devastating ferry disaster on Lake Kariba, which has claimed 93 lives, making it the country’s deadliest transport disaster.

Source: ichef.bbci.co.uk

The ferry, which had a capacity to carry 90 passengers, was hit by a strong wave and overturned a week ago, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives. The state-run Herald newspaper estimates that at least 168 people were on board the ferry when it capsized.

Source: ichef.bbci.co.uk

President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a state of disaster following the accident, and search and recovery efforts are continuing by divers. The lake, which straddles the border with Zambia, is one of the world’s largest man-made reservoirs, supporting transport and fishing and providing vital hydroelectric power to both countries.

Source: ichef.bbci.co.uk

The death toll rose from 44 at the time of the accident to 84 over the weekend, according to police. Nine more bodies have since been found by divers, and a police statement on Tuesday put the death toll at 93.

The bodies were now being recovered further away from the scene of the sinking, some of them drifting towards Zambia, the Herald reports. Provincial Affairs Minister Marian Chombo said 67 people had been rescued after the sinking.

However, the identification process has been challenging, with relatives having to rely on clothes and other items to identify the recovered bodies. ‘We are running out of time, and DNA may now be needed to assist in the identification process,’ the minister was quoted by the Herald as saying.

Victims’ Families Face a Difficult Time

The police said 83 of the victims had so far been identified, 39 of whom were children. A vital and cheap transport link for rural communities, the ferry was carrying parents taking their children home for the school holidays and traders, the Herald said.

A survivor in her 40s told the AFP news agency that the ferry had been particularly overloaded at the time with goods – and passengers had raised concerns about the rough conditions. ‘The life jackets were buried under the luggage, and not more than 30 people managed to get them,’ said Itayi Marumisa, a trader from Mola village.

‘Children were screaming and most of the passengers were vomiting, but the captain did not seem to care,’ Marumisa added. A local councillor representing Mola, Tight Bhusumani, told the Herald it was a difficult time for his community, with children in particular affected.

‘We have distressing cases where a child lost both parents and other siblings, leaving them as the only surviving member of the family,’ Bhusumani is quoted as saying. The councillor, who lost a child in the accident, said other families were still awaiting news of those believed to have been on the ferry.