Mourners gathered in Kariba, Zimbabwe, today to bid farewell to dozens of people killed when an overloaded ferry capsized on Lake Kariba earlier this week. Police have confirmed the death toll has tragically risen to 46.
State broadcaster ZBC News reported that some families have lost multiple members in the disaster. The ferry, which was traveling from Kariba town to remote rural communities and fishing camps, capsized on Tuesday. These communities heavily rely on the vessel for transport due to damaged roads and scarce public transportation.
Among those grieving is Collen Ndandalika, who lost his wife and three children in the tragedy. He reported that two children have been recovered, but his wife and another child remain missing.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has declared a state of disaster, acknowledging that the tragedy “exposed serious deficiencies in our maritime capabilities which we have to address immediately so that our places of recreation do not become death traps to the innocent.” He has ordered government agencies to mobilize resources to assist victims and accelerate recovery efforts.
Key Players Involved
- Zimbabwean Government: Declared a state of disaster and ordered resource mobilization for victims and recovery efforts.
- President Emmerson Mnangagwa: Acknowledged deficiencies in maritime capabilities and ordered immediate addressal of issues.
- Police: Confirmed the rising death toll to 46.
- Families of Victims: Suffering immense loss, with some losing multiple family members.
Event Timeline
- Tuesday, August 11, 2026: Overloaded ferry capsizes on Lake Kariba.
- Thursday, August 13, 2026: Mourners gather; police confirm death toll rises to 46. President Mnangagwa declares a state of disaster.
