Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba and Walter Nyamukondiwa
THE death toll from the Lake Kariba ferry disaster has risen to 84, with Government intensifying an investigation into how the passenger vessel capsized under inclement weather.
Preliminary investigations are pointing to a deadly mix of navigational error, possible overloading and a failure to heed adverse weather warnings.
A technical report is set to be tabled before Cabinet tomorrow.
President Mnangagwa has since declared the incident a National Disaster, mobilising national resources for the response effort.
Rescue teams, including the Zimbabwe National Army Boat Squadron and the ZRP Sub-aqua Unit, continue to search for more victims in the lake.
Yesterday, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Advocate Felix Mhona, accompanied by Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Marian Chombo and other senior officials, visited the scene of the accident near Long Island.
The Ministers also held an urgent meeting with Lake Kariba boat and ferry operators to assess the immediate response and chart mitigatory measures going forward.
Minister Mhona confirmed that the Government is legally mandated to investigate such incidents under the Inland Waters Shipping Act (Chapter 13:06).
“We are saddened as a nation, we are mourning our beloved ones who perished on this lake. I am happy that today (yesterday) I managed to witness first-hand and engage our operators to find out what really transpired and what mitigatory measures we should be taking going forward,” said Minister Mhona.
He added: “Through the Ministry of Transport, we superintend over inland waters. The Inland Waters Shipping Act directs us on issues of safety and registration. I want to thank His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, our visionary leader, who saw it fit to declare this a national disaster, bringing it under the purview of the Civil Protection Unit.”
Investigators have so far ruled out structural failure as a primary cause.
Inland Waters Control director, Mr Lameck Chitenga, confirmed that an initial assessment of the vessel showed its hull remained intact at the time of the incident.
However, evidence gathered points to operational and environmental lapses.
The vessel-owned by the Rural Infrastructure Development Authority (RIDA) and formerly under the Department of District Development Fund — was caught in strong winds locally known as the “Binga Wave” during its voyage from Kariba town to Chalala Fishing Camp.
Video footage taken shortly after departure shows the boat already labouring in choppy waters as passengers watched helplessly while water rose around them.
While the localised weather bulletin for the lake had largely predicted calm conditions with light breezes, it also explicitly cautioned mariners to watch for localised choppy conditions in the afternoon.
The bulletin flagged a strengthening South Indian Ocean anticyclone, which was expected to bring light-to-moderate north-easterly to south-easterly winds, occasionally reaching Force 3 over exposed sections of the lake — precisely the conditions that contributed to the tragedy.
The grim discovery of more bodies yesterday pushed the death toll from 72 to 84.
Provincial Affairs Minister Marian Chombo confirmed the development during an afternoon briefing.
“We have had a devastating tragedy in Kariba where several people have lost their lives. We have just received information on the recovery of eight more bodies, meaning we now have 80 deaths in the disaster,” said Minister Chombo.
She applauded the collaborative efforts of Government departments, the Zimbabwe National Army, the sub-aqua unit, freelance divers, local business operators, and the Kariba community for their tireless support in managing the tragedy and recovering the victims.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi also issued a formal update: “ZRP update as at 1400 hours today (yesterday). The Kariba RIDA boat accident death toll is now 80 following the recovery of eight more bodies on 16th August 2026.”
So far, 67 survivors have been rescued from the capsized ferry.
Local boat operators, including Mr Cephas Shonhiwa and Mr Nesbit Mapfumo, who participated in yesterday’s engagement, have pledged to assist the Government in mobilising resources to ensure search and recovery operations continue uninterrupted.
In a related development, President Mnangagwa has directed Minister Mhona to mobilise resources for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Karoi-Binga Road.
The project aims to improve land-based access to Chalala, Mola, Siakobvu, and surrounding areas, which currently rely heavily on the lake for transport — a vulnerability highlighted by this week’s tragedy.
Minister Mhona reiterated that once the technical report is submitted to Cabinet tomorrow, Government will be guided by the President on the next steps, including potential regulatory reforms to prevent future disasters on Zimbabwe’s inland waters.
