Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
THE death toll from the Kariba Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) boat disaster has risen to 93, with police releasing the names of 39 more victims as efforts to identify the deceased continue.
In a statement, National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said the latest recoveries had pushed the death toll to 93.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that as at 11 am today, the Kariba Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) boat accident death toll has risen to 93,” he said.
Comm Nyathi said the latest identifications brought the total number of positively identified victims to 83, following the identification of 44 victims on August 14.
The latest list includes adults and children, among them 64-year-old Michael Tapureta, 38-year-old Maruza Shambo and 39-year-old Emurai Siakanoka.
Several children are also among those identified, including seven-month-old Jesmine Nduna and one-month-old Tehillar Matembeka.
The disaster has left families and communities in Kariba, Hurungwe and Siakobvu mourning, with multiple members of some families among the deceased.
The vessel capsized on Lake Kariba on August 11 while travelling from Kariba to Chalala, triggering a major search-and-rescue operation involving the police and other authorities.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has since declared the disaster a national disaster, with Government mobilising support for affected families.
Police have continued with the recovery and identification of victims, while investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident are ongoing.
Comm Nyathi said police were working with relevant authorities and families to identify those who remained unidentified.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police continues to work closely with relevant authorities and families in the identification of the remaining victims,” he said.
He urged people whose relatives or close associates remained unaccounted for to approach the police or the command centre in Kariba.
“Members of the public who may have relatives or close associates still unaccounted for following the accident are urged to contact the local Police Station or approach the Command Centre in Kariba for assistance,” Commissioner Nyathi said.
The latest death toll makes the Kariba disaster one of the country’s deadliest maritime tragedies, with the recovery and identification of victims continuing.
