Online Reporter
Sunday News Reporter
IN the wake of the tragedy that struck Kariba Rural following the Kariba ferry disaster on August 11, the Government has since launched an extensive, multi-faceted relief and community engagement campaign aimed at delivering immediate support, rebuilding livelihoods and offering compassionate leadership to the affected families.
The exercise last week saw senior Government officials, led by Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Edgar Moyo, being dispatched to the heart of the impacted region in Chief Mola’s area.
Recognising the need to act swiftly, the Government deployed helicopter air services to allow for the immediate needs assessments, guidance of technical teams as well as engagements with local traditional leaders and grieving families.
A massive air and road logistical relief operation was also rolled out, through which a relay-style logistics strategy was deployed to overcome severe road infrastructure challenges leading into deep Kariba Rural.
Heavy long-haul trucks transported aid from main milling hubs to primary drop-offs, where smaller, nimble lorries hired from local business owners took over the final leg across rugged terrain.
Through this strategy, a 60-tonne consignment of mealie-meal reached Chief Mola’s area and surrounding wards (Wards 1, 3, and 4) right after the ministerial engagement, ensuring families immediately received critical food supplies.
“A consignment of 60 tonnes of mealie-meal was already on its way to Kariba Rural when Minister Moyo visited, and this was for the month of September. Movement was slow logistically partly due to poor state of the roads, which is of concern to Government and the affected communities,” said the ministry in a statement.
“Larger lorries that transport mealie-meal from milling points cannot proceed beyond certain points on the way and cannot navigate the roads all the way to the affected villages. Smaller capacity lorries belonging to local businesspeople are then engaged to complete the transportation to distribution points.
“The trucks delivering the mealie-meal duly reached the area a day after the minister’s visit and the food was distributed to families and members of the community in need.”
During the visit, Minister Moyo extended condolences and sympathies to the families affected by the disaster and personally visited some homesteads to meet with family members.
Government has since made a commitment to support to vulnerable communities in the area until the next harvest. Authorities will also cover all logistics relating to the movement of grain.
Beyond food distribution, the Government’s comprehensive disaster response package addresses immediate and long-term recovery for the affected communities.
Eligible community members will continue receiving monthly cash transfers of US$20 (payable in local currency at the prevailing interbank rate) to support basic household needs, while grants between US$500 and US$10 000 are being disbursed for individual and group income-generating projects to help families rebuild.
Children from households affected by the ferry disaster are receiving full educational assistance, covering school fees, uniforms and stationery.
In addition, social workers, partnered with academic institutions like the University of Zimbabwe’s Department of Social Work, are deployed in the villages to offer trauma counselling and grief support to affected homesteads.
Through these combined efforts — spanning immediate aerial leadership, robust ground logistics, cash transfers, and hands-on psychosocial care —the Government underscored its commitment to restoring dignity and ensuring that no family or community in Kariba is left behind.
“As Government, we stand with the communities of Mola, Chalala and Nyaminyami. We recognise the pain you carry and pledge continued support,” Minister Moyo said during the recent visit.
“We have brought mealie-meal, but this is not the end; we will walk together through the journey and assist with cash transfers to cushion affected households.”
Minister Moyo said children from affected families would receive assistance under the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), while those requiring medical attention would also receive support.
Provincial social development officer Mrs Agnes Mutowo added: “We have been given 200 tonnes of mealie-meal by the central Government for Kariba District, with 60 going to Kariba ferry accident victims. As Government, we are working with various players to ensure that we render the necessary support to the affected families.”
On September 8, Cabinet approved a sweeping relief package for families and communities hit by the Lake Kariba ferry disaster, including humanitarian aid, infrastructure developments and strict water safety upgrades to rebuild livelihoods.
