By Advent Shoko
HARARE, Zimbabwe — The National Democratic Working Group (NDWG), led by opposition figure Job Sikhala, has demanded accountability from the Government over the Lake Kariba boat disaster that left at least 15 people dead and 27 missing.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the group described the capsizing of the Mbuya Nehanda vessel as a tragedy that could have been prevented, accusing the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) of failing to prioritise passenger safety.
The ferry, which was carrying more than 100 people when it capsized on Tuesday, was travelling from Kariba town to Chalala Fishing Camp when it went down in Lake Kariba.
The disaster has left families across Kariba searching for loved ones, with rescue teams continuing to scour the lake.
NDWG Calls For Accountability
The NDWG said the vessel had been operating since 1985 and questioned why a boat it described as being about 41 years old was still being used to transport passengers.
“The ramshackle boat is as old as 41 years and was kept cruising in the Kariba waters without due care to the safety of passengers,” the group said.
“Depending on luck every moment it made a successful trip is not administrative diligence but negligence.”
The organisation said RIDA, which operates the vessel, should be held responsible if investigations establish that safety standards were breached.
The statement comes as questions grow over the circumstances surrounding the disaster, including the number of people aboard, the vessel’s capacity and whether adequate safety measures were in place.
Families Face Anguish
The NDWG expressed condolences to the families of those killed and to the wider Kariba community.
“This was meant to be a journey to their destinations [but] turned out to be a horror that will torment several families and children for the rest of their lives,” it said.
The tragedy has already claimed multiple lives from the same families, with Kariba MP Shine Gwangwaba saying he lost his sister and at least 15 close relatives in the accident.
The scale of the loss has deepened concerns in communities around the lake, where boats remain an important means of transport.
Rescue Operation Continues
Provincial authorities said 77 people had been rescued and 15 bodies recovered, while about 27 people remained unaccounted for.
The figures could change because authorities have not yet established the exact number of children who were aboard the vessel. Children below the ticketing age were reportedly not included in passenger ticket records.
The Civil Protection Unit has been coordinating the response, with Matusadonha rescue teams, local boat operators, the Police Sub-Aqua Unit and other responders involved in the search.
The rescued passengers were taken to Long Island, with boats mobilised to transport them to the mainland.
Call For National Disaster Declaration
NDWG called on the Government to declare the accident a national disaster and deploy all available resources to the search and recovery operation.
It also called for compensation for victims’ families if investigations establish government negligence.
The group further alleged that the vessel was overloaded and that passengers were not provided with life jackets. However, these claims have not been independently established, and official accounts have indicated that the boat had life jackets.
RIDA director-general Christopher Shumba said the disaster was a major tragedy and confirmed that the vessel’s captain was among those who died.
“This is a tragedy of major proportion and we have lost several people so far while others are still to be accounted for,” Shumba said.
He added that search operations had to be suspended overnight because of poor visibility but were expected to resume in the morning.
The Bigger Questions
Beyond the immediate rescue operation, the disaster is likely to trigger difficult questions about the condition of public vessels, passenger capacity, safety equipment and regulatory oversight on Lake Kariba.
Official figures show that the Mbuya Nehanda had 114 adult passengers with tickets and five crew members, already exceeding its reported carrying capacity of 90. The number of children aboard remained unknown.
For now, however, the priority remains finding those still missing and supporting families waiting for news.
The NDWG said the disaster should serve as a warning that passenger safety must come before convenience or cost.
“Government must prioritise the safety of its citizens at all times,” the group said.
The search for the missing passengers was continuing on Wednesday.
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