Lake Kariba Ferry Disaster: Death Toll Rises to 92 as Safety Deficiencies Exposed
Search operations involving divers and multiple vessels continue as police suspect the vessel was significantly overloaded, marking the deadliest maritime incident in the country’s history.
Police in Zimbabwe have recovered eight additional bodies following the capsizing of a ferry on Lake Kariba, raising the confirmed death toll to at least 92. The Zimbabwe National Police Service announced the updated casualty figures on Monday, confirming that 84 bodies had been recovered the previous day. The incident, which occurred six days ago during high winds near the Zambian border, is now believed to be the deadliest of its kind in the country.
Search and recovery efforts remain active, with authorities deploying four boats and more than 40 divers to locate remaining victims. Police have indicated that they expect all bodies to eventually surface as operations continue. The ferry was travelling from the town of Kariba in the north of Zimbabwe to rural and fishing communities in the north west, a route that relies heavily on water transport due to limited public transport and poorly maintained roads in the region.
While authorities have not officially confirmed the total number of people on board, earlier reports suggested the vessel was significantly overloaded. The ferry’s stated capacity was 90 people, but unverified accounts indicated up to 153 passengers and crew were on board at the time of the disaster. The exact number of those on board remains unconfirmed by officials.
The human cost of the tragedy is stark, with at least 18 children among the deceased. Video footage from local media showed hundreds of people waiting outside a local hospital on Saturday to identify their loved ones, highlighting the community impact of the disaster. The lack of infrastructure in the region often forces residents to use waterways for essential travel, despite known safety risks.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa described the incident as tragic, emphasising that it exposed serious deficiencies in transport safety that required immediate attention. As the death toll climbs, the disaster has intensified scrutiny on regulatory oversight and infrastructure planning in Zimbabwe’s border regions.
