An overloaded ferry tragically capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, resulting in the loss of at least 15 lives and leaving 27 individuals still unaccounted for, as reported by the national disaster management agency. The agency disclosed that 77 people were successfully rescued and transported to an island on the lake.
According to Zimbabwe’s Civil Protection Unit, it was confirmed through ticket sales that there were 114 adult passengers on board the ferry, with a possibility of additional unrecorded children below the age requiring tickets. The statement also mentioned the presence of five crew members on the vessel, which has a capacity of 90 passengers.
Mutsa Murombedzi, a local Member of Parliament, shared a video showing individuals on the shore observing the ferry setting off on its journey. The ferry, known as the RIDA boat named Mbuya Nehanda, was frequently used by rural communities to travel from rural Kariba to Kariba urban. Concerns were raised in the video about the ferry’s ability to handle the rough waves on the lake.
Zimbabwean authorities initiated a rescue mission following the incident, with police confirming ongoing efforts without providing further details. Video footage released by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) depicted speedboats heading towards an overturned vessel on the lake, with a helicopter providing aerial support.
Lake Kariba, situated on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, is the largest man-made lake globally by volume. Originating from the construction of a dam wall blocking the Zambezi River in the late 1950s and early 1960s, the lake spans over 200 kilometers in length and up to 40 kilometers in width at certain points. The lake is jointly shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia, with the official border between the two countries running through its center.