Online Reporter
Zimpapers Correspondent
Kariba District Clerk and acting Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) district head Mr Ignitious Chiome was yesterday remanded in custody in connection with the capsizing of the Mbuya Nehanda ferry on Lake Kariba, which claimed 97 lives.
Mr 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, Thursday, 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 up to 180 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.
About 30 minutes into the journey, rough waters reportedly breached the deck, submerging the bilge pump and causing the engines to fail before the vessel capsized.
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 the accident 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.
Investigations into RIDA management and the ferry crew are continuing, with further arrests possible as authorities seek to establish responsibility for the tragedy.
The court case comes amid growing public calls for accountability over the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the Mbuya Nehanda passenger ferry.
