Online Reporter
Walter Nyamukondiwa in KARIBA
SEARCH and recovery teams yesterday retrieved two more bodies from Lake Kariba, bringing confirmed deaths from the RIDA-owned Mbuya Nehanda ferry to 97.
This came as salvage engineers began an intricate operation to right the capsized vessel ahead of a full technical investigation.
The two bodies, a woman and a young boy, were found drifting near Fothergill Island and towards King’s Camp, triggering a swift multi-agency response involving the Zimbabwe National Army, Police sub-aqua unit and Lake Kariba harbourmaster Mr Lameck Chitenga.
While the recovery initially brought the death toll in line with figures compiled from relatives’ missing-persons reports, Mashonaland West provincial Local Government Services director Mrs Cecilia Chitiyo said a body of a young woman, recovered on Tuesday, did not match anyone on the list.
“With the recovery of two bodies today (yesterday), we have reached the estimated number of bodies we are looking for based on relatives who came forward reporting missing persons,” said Mrs Chitiyo.
“However, we have a body that was recovered on Tuesday of a woman in her 20s, which remains unclaimed. This means we still have one body missing from our list.”
Should the woman be identified as an additional victim rather than a duplicate, the death toll would rise to 98, Mrs Chitiyo said, adding that search and recovery efforts would continue until the outstanding case was resolved and to account for any passengers who may not have been formally reported missing.
Meanwhile, the salvage operation gathered pace yesterday as a team led by Mr Craig Hall towed the ferry to a more sheltered position within the Musambakaruma Group of Islands, where calmer waters will allow specialists to begin the delicate process of turning it upright.
“We have today managed to tow the vessel to another side of Musambakaruma Islands where it is safe and we can work on the boat without waves and strong winds disturbing us,” said Mr Hall.
“So, what we are going to do is drill holes on the hull to allow water in on one side and push it downwards until it goes past vertical, and then we lift it up.
“That will allow us to tow it. It’s a complex process that may take up to eight days.”
A gantry, described as a floating heavy-duty workshop capable of lifting the vessel, was brought in to support the operation.
Once righted, the ferry will be towed away for a full technical inspection aimed at establishing the circumstances that led to the accident.
The number of people gathered at Kariba District Hospital has significantly declined in recent days, as most families have identified and collected bodies of relatives for burial.
Search and recovery operations are set to continue today.
