Churches mourn Kariba disaster victims

THE Council for Churches in Africa (CCA) has joined Zimbabwe and the rest of the world in mourning the victims of the devastating Lake Kariba ferry disaster, describing the tragedy as a painful national wound that has left families shattered and communities grappling with an unbearable loss.

The disaster, which occurred on August 11 when a ferry carrying passengers to remote fishing communities on Lake Kariba capsized, becoming one of Zimbabwe’s deadliest maritime tragedies.

As search and recovery operations continued, the death toll had risen to 93 by Tuesday, according to police, with scores of families plunged into mourning and many still waiting for answers and the recovery of their loved ones.

CCA president Dr Rocky Moyo said the church body was deeply saddened by the loss of life and extended its condolences to the bereaved families, survivors, rescuers and the communities affected by the tragedy.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of precious lives in the Kariba disaster. Our hearts go out to the families who have lost fathers, mothers, children, brothers, sisters and loved ones,” said Dr Moyo.

He said the scale of the tragedy had left the nation mourning as one, urging Zimbabweans to stand together with affected families during their darkest hour.

“This is a moment when we must put aside our differences and stand together as a nation. We mourn with the families, we mourn with the communities and we mourn with the whole nation. These were our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers, our children and fellow citizens,” said Dr Moyo.

The ferry, which was reportedly designed to carry about 90 passengers, was carrying significantly more people when it capsized amid rough conditions.

Survivors have recounted scenes of panic as water entered the vessel, with some passengers reportedly pleading for the journey to be abandoned before the ferry overturned.

The tragedy has since triggered widespread soul-searching over maritime safety, emergency preparedness and the challenges faced by communities that depend on Lake Kariba for transport and livelihoods.

Dr Moyo said the church had a responsibility to provide spiritual comfort and solidarity to people struggling to come to terms with the magnitude of the tragedy.

“In moments such as these, words can never adequately express the pain of losing so many lives. But as the church, we must remind grieving families that they are not alone. We stand with them in prayer, in compassion and in solidarity,” he said.

He called on Christians and people of goodwill across Zimbabwe and beyond to pray for the bereaved families and survivors while continuing to support the national response.

“We pray for strength for those who have lost loved ones, healing for the survivors and wisdom for those involved in the search, rescue and recovery operations. May God comfort every family that has been touched by this tragedy,” said Dr Moyo.

CCA in an ecumenical and ecclesiastical umbrella body representing churches and religious leaders across Africa.

Its missions include promoting unity, peace, harmony and humanitarian support.

The organisation says it represents thousands of affiliated churches and millions of people across the continent.

Dr Moyo said the Kariba disaster should also serve as a solemn reminder of the value of human life and the need for greater vigilance in protecting communities that rely on water transport.

“Every life is precious. While we mourn, we must also learn from this tragedy. We must ensure that everything possible is done to prevent such a catastrophe from happening again,” he said.

The disaster has also left survivors carrying deep emotional scars, with families gathering to identify and mourn their relatives as recovery teams continued working to retrieve bodies from the lake.

A mass mourning ceremony was held in Kariba as the community confronted the devastating loss.

Lake Kariba, one of the world’s largest man-made lakes by volume, is a critical economic and transport lifeline for communities on both the Zimbabwean and Zambian sides.

However, its vast waters can become treacherous, particularly during periods of strong winds and rough conditions.

The latest tragedy has revived concerns over safety on the lake, particularly after previous boating accidents claimed lives in recent years.

Dr Moyo said the church would continue to pray for the nation as Zimbabwe grapples with the painful aftermath of the disaster.

“We appeal to the nation to remain united and compassionate. Let us surround the affected families with love and support. At a time of such profound grief, we must demonstrate the best of our humanity,” he said.

As the country mourns the victims, the CCA said its thoughts and prayers remained with every family waiting for a loved one, every survivor carrying the scars of the disaster and every community struggling to comprehend the scale of the loss.