Now Reading: 44 die as ferry capsizes on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba
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44 die as ferry capsizes on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba
At least 44 people drowned after a government passenger ferry capsized in rough weather on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba on Tuesday. The Zimbabwe Republic Police updated the toll on Wednesday, saying rescue teams…
The Story in Brief
At least 44 people drowned after a government passenger ferry capsized in rough weather on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba on Tuesday. The Zimbabwe Republic Police updated the toll on Wednesday, saying rescue teams had saved 77 people and recovered 15 bodies initially. A witness told AFP that bodies could be seen floating as rescuers tried to reach the overturned vessel.
The ferry, operated by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), was carrying 114 adult passengers, five crew members, and an unspecified number of children, exceeding its capacity of 90. A survivor told ZBC broadcaster that passengers pleaded with the driver to turn back because of choppy conditions, but he refused. President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the accident a national disaster, stating it exposed serious deficiencies in maritime capabilities.
The Indian Opinion
The narrative of a stubborn driver ignoring pleas and an overcrowded 'death trap' ferry is gripping, but it risks oversimplifying what is a systemic failure. Lake Kariba, the world's largest man-made lake, is a vital link for remote communities, yet safety appears to have been an afterthought for years. President Mnangagwa’s admission of 'serious deficiencies' rings hollow without a timeline for action. The real test will be whether the government releases a full investigation into the vessel’s maintenance, crew training, and capacity enforcement, or if this fades like so many other promises.
Source: deccanchronicle.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
