KARIBA, Aug. 16 (NewsDay Live) — The death toll from the Mbuyanehanda boat disaster on Lake Kariba has risen to 84 after 12 more bodies were retrieved Sunday, as Zimbabwe stepped up calls for expanded search operations into Zambian waters.
Minister of State and Devolution Affairs for Mashonaland West, Marion Chombo, confirmed the latest recoveries while addressing stakeholders in Kariba and the police added that anotyher four were recovered later ij the day.
“The search will continue and I urge the nation to work as a team. We have so far recovered 80 bodies since Tuesday and 67 people survived the accident,” Chombo said.
The Mbuyanehanda KF551 was travelling from Kariba Urban to Chalala Fishing Camp carrying an as-yet unknown number of passengers and goods when it reportedly encountered strong winds and rough waves mid-lake and capsized last week.
Search and recovery teams comprising the Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe National Army, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development officials and community volunteers have been conducting operations despite challenging weather and water conditions.
According to authorities, 13 bodies were retrieved on Tuesday, 31 on Wednesday, two on Thursday, none on Friday, 26 on Saturday and eight on Sunday, bringing the total to 80.
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A total of 67 survivors have been recorded, while several people remain unaccounted for. Authorities are still verifying the exact number of people who were aboard the vessel when it capsized.
The latest recoveries come amid calls for search teams to extend operations into Zambian waters, with some missing people reportedly believed to have been swept towards Starvation Island, which falls under Zambian jurisdiction.
Deputy Director in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Capt. Lameck Chitenga, earlier appealed to government and stakeholders to urgently engage Zambia to facilitate expanded search operations.
“We are appealing to the government and all stakeholders to engage our Zambian counterparts so that the current search efforts can include Zambian waters,” Chitenga said.
However, Chombo said Zimbabwe already has a Memorandum of Understanding with Zambia that allows for cross-border cooperation during emergencies on Lake Kariba.
“We have a Memorandum of Understanding with Zambia and we are free to search even across the Zambian borders. We have also talked with our Zambian counterparts to assist us with information should they discover a body across the borders,” she said.
Lake Kariba is shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia, making cross-border coordination critical as the recovery operation continues.
The Zimbabwean authorities have not indicated whether search teams have formally expanded operations into Zambian waters, while no official comment had been received from Zambian authorities by the time of publication.
Authorities have urged boat operators to exercise extreme caution during the windy season and ensure vessels are equipped with life jackets and communication devices.
Meanwhile, a man died on Sunday morning after being attacked by an elephant near the National Angling Union of Zimbabwe (NAUZ) in Kariba on Saturday evening.
The man was reportedly returning to Charara Site after buying groceries at NAUZ when he encountered the elephant.
He was rushed to Nyamhunga Clinic before being transferred to Kariba District Hospital, where he died on Sunday morning.