KARIBA, Aug. 18 (NewsDay Live) — The death toll from the Kariba ferry disaster has risen to 94, with police identifying 39 more victims, including several children and infants, in one of Zimbabwe’s worst recent water tragedies.
The police said on Tuesday that 83 of the 94 victims had now been positively identified by their next of kin.
The latest identification brings some measure of certainty to families who have spent the past week waiting for news of relatives who were aboard the ill-fated vessel.
Among those identified are children as young as one month old, including Tehillar Matembeka, while Jesmine Nduna was seven months old and Matipaise Siyachinene was 1 year and three months old.
The youngest victims named in the latest police update also include Liar Mutale, Ambila Msaka and Liandra Makanyaire, all aged 2, as well as Siadembe Richard Junior, Eken Kapandura and several other young children.
Police said the latest 39 victims were identified by their next of kin. A further 44 victims had been identified on Aug. 14, bringing the total number of positively identified victims to 83.
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The identities were released as recovery operations continued on Lake Kariba.
How the tragedy unfolded
The Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) vessel, Mbuya Nehanda, capsized on Aug. 11 while travelling from Kariba toward the Chalala fishing camps on Lake Kariba.
Early figures indicated that the boat was carrying far more people than its stated capacity. Ticket records later showed 114 adult passengers and five crew members, while children who did not require tickets were also believed to have been aboard. The vessel had a stated passenger capacity of 90.
The disaster has raised questions about passenger safety and capacity controls on government-operated vessels.
RIDA is a government agency under the Office of the President and Cabinet responsible for, among other functions, rural infrastructure development, water supplies and related services.
Its operations include marine services in Kariba.
The tragedy has also exposed the importance of the Kariba water transport network to communities around the lake.
The RIDA vessel was used to connect remote fishing camps with Kariba town, with the journey taking about six hours. The service was used to transport essential supplies, including ice for fishers.
For communities in areas such as Mola, Siakobvu and Chalala, Lake Kariba is not simply a tourism destination but an important transport corridor linking isolated communities to services and markets.
Families continue to search for answers
Police said they were continuing to work with relevant authorities and families to identify the remaining victims.
Members of the public who believe relatives or close associates remain unaccounted for have been urged to contact their nearest police station or the command centre in Kariba.
The latest list includes victims from Kariba and surrounding communities, as well as people from Karoi, Hurungwe, Binga and Chirundu.
Among those identified are Jeremiah Chakabvapasi, 32; Mereki Hwani, 54; Tanatswa Ncube, 10; Beauty George, 29; Noah Msaka, 40; Trish Mangoroma, 21; Chenai Chilakola, 28; Michael Tapureta, 64; Jennifer Matengambiri, 38; Maruza Shambo, 38; Ashley Eric Muzunga, 15; Luumono Siabwanda, 18; Matilda Gwangwaba, 44; Dolleta Jakarasi, 17; and Felicia Mukwonka, 18.
The list also includes Rongedza Tauro, 41; Emmanuel Siampamba, 31; Nokutenda Muvengwa, 7; Alvin Mazhomba, 4; Wishmore Junior Charindapanze, 4; Collice Samanyanga, 14; Desley Ruvarashe Shereni, 16; and Bliss Simamba, 5 months.
Other victims identified by police are Sithembile Msaka, 30; Future Siamawere, 30; Rodrick Siamatonga, 4; Ambila Msaka, 2; Matipaise Siyachinene, 1 year and 3 months; and Liandra Makanyaire, 2.
Police also identified Emurai Siakanoka, 39; Netsai Inusa, 33; Liar Mutale, 2; Tehillar Matembeka, 1 month; Jesmine Nduna, 7 months; Student Makara, 5; and Siadembe Richard Junior, 2.
The remaining unidentified victims have yet to be formally named as authorities continue the identification process.