adminIn her condolence message to the beareaved families, the Acting President attributed the accident to the boat operators’ love of money and profits saying she learnt of the tragic deaths with deep grief and sorrow.
“Whilst I am still to get the full facts on what happened on that fateful day, the initial reports point to callous negligence on the part of the boat owners,” said Acting President Mujuru.
“Gross negligence has cost us so tremendously by way of eleven hapless souls who did not deserve such a cruel fate.
“As a mother and grandmother, I feel the full horror of this whole incident, all of it aggravated by the staggering toll borne by one victim-family, the Ruzvidzo family, which lost three children in that incident.”
Acting President Mujuru said it was ironic that the children drowned on a day dedicated to celebrating life.
“Such reckless disregard of life in its innocence triggers deep questions in all of us, more so in those in our midst whose quest for money and profit simply cheapen life in this extraordinary way,” she said.
“On behalf of Government and on my own behalf, I want to express my heartfelt condolences to all the families which have lost their little lovely angels in this terrible way on a day ironically dedicated to celebrating life.
“May the fact of our sharing in their grief lighten their pain. The whole nation joins them in this hour of pain and sorrow.”
The Acting President’s condolence message came as the owner of Chasura Boats, Latif Ameer (53) and three accomplices appeared in court facing 11 counts of culpable homicide Ameer was arrested on Tuesday, together with boat captain Fadil Ramon Weale (27), driver Enock Yorani Zulu (36) and Joseph Abraham (37) whose position is has not been revealed, following the disaster.
They were remanded to January 11 next year on $500 bail apiece.
Ameer and his accomplices were not formally charged when they appeared before provincial magistrate Mr Kudakwashe Jarabini.
They are also facing an alternative charge of contravening certain sections of the Inland Waters Shipping Act Chapter 13:06.
As part of their bail conditions, they were ordered to report once every Friday at their nearest police stations.
They are also required to continue residing at their given addresses until the matter is finalised.
Prosecutor Ms Mollyn Mutamangira alleged that on December 25 at Lake Chivero, Ameer, who is the owner of the speedboat approached Zulu and asked him to operate it.
She said Ameer allegedly failed to provide life jackets to passengers who would board the boat.
Ms Mutamangira said Ameer assigned Weale to be in charge of collecting money from passengers before they got into the boat to supervise the passengers.
Abraham, she said, loaded 17 passengers into the boat, which has a carrying capacity of six passengers, without lifesavers in the presence of the other suspects.
Ameer further instructed Zulu to continue operating the boat with passengers without life jackets.
Zulu, Ms Mutamangira said, did not have a licence to operate the boat, but drove the boat into Lake Chivero around 6:10pm.
As the boat was in the middle of the lake, water started getting in and passengers panicked and moved to one side.
The overloaded boat capsized causing the death of 11 passengers.
Meanwhile, the remaining victims of the boat disaster, Sprenner (12) and Anesu Kaseke (10) were buried yesterday at Rwizi village in Mhondoro.
Their father, Mr Tobias Kaseke, said his other relatives, Tadiwanashe January (7) and Pathras Chimimba (13) were laid to rest at Granville cemetery in Harare on Tuesday.
The other victim, Munashe Joramu was also laid to rest in Norton yesterday.
Online Reporter