Zimbabwe: Ramaphosa Mourns 44 Killed in Lake Kariba Disaster

What the report says

A deadly ferry accident on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe has left at least 44 people dead after the vessel overturned on Tuesday, 11 August, after striking strong waves. According to the Scrolla report distributed by AllAfrica, 77 people have been rescued so far, while search and recovery teams continue working on the lake. The ferry was carrying passengers between the town of Kariba and islands or fishing camps on the large lake, which sits on the Zimbabwe-Zambia border north-east of Harare.

The disaster has prompted Zimbabwe to declare a state of disaster as authorities continue emergency operations. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has expressed condolences and said the accident exposed weaknesses in the country’s maritime safety and emergency response capacity, calling for urgent action to prevent a similar tragedy. The report says questions remain about what exactly caused the capsizing and whether safety failures played a role.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also offered condolences, saying South Africa stood in solidarity with Zimbabwe and extending sympathy to bereaved families, survivors and emergency workers. The incident has drawn wider attention to the risks faced by communities that rely on boats for transport and livelihoods around Lake Kariba, one of the world’s largest man-made lakes by volume. As of the report, rescue and recovery efforts were still underway and some families were awaiting news of missing relatives.