Online Reporter
Herald Correspondent
KARIBA District clerk and acting Rural Infrastructure Development Agency district head Ignitious Chiome was yesterday remanded in custody in connection with the capsizing of the Mbuya Nehanda ferry on Lake Kariba, which claimed 97 lives.
Chiome appeared before the Kariba Magistrates’ Court facing a charge of culpable homicide arising from the August 11 tragedy.
He was remanded in custody until tomorrow when the court is expected to rule on his bail application.
The State alleges that administrative failures, overloading of the vessel and breaches of operational safety procedures contributed to the disaster, which has been described as the country’s deadliest maritime tragedy.
Preliminary findings presented to Cabinet indicate that the vessel was carrying more than 170 passengers and heavy cargo when it departed Andora Harbour for Chalala fishing camps.
The ferry was authorised to carry only 90 passengers.
Investigators are also probing allegations that the vessel was allowed to sail despite severe weather warnings issued by the Meteorological Services Department over strong south-westerly winds commonly known as the Binga Wave.
Survivors have told investigators that they pleaded with the crew to turn back or seek shelter at nearby islands as weather conditions worsened, but their requests were allegedly ignored.
Following the tragedy, President Mnangagwa declared a State of Disaster, prompting a multi-agency search-and-recovery operation involving sub-aqua units and local divers.
The recovery operation was recently concluded, with teams retrieving bodies from depths of up to 80 metres.
Meanwhile, one of the 97 people who died when the ferry capsized has not yet been identified and police are appealing to the public for information to assist with the process.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi yesterday said authorities had so far managed to identify 96 of the victims, with only one remaining unidentified.
