Zimbabwe launches formal inquest into Lake Kariba ferry tragedy

The inquest seeks to determine whether the accident can also be attributed to negligence on the part of the ferry’s captain.

According to an initial investigation, the captain had decided to proceed with the vessel’s scheduled voyage on August 11 even after the Zimbabwe Meteorological Services Department issued a weather advisory warning of potentially unsafe sailing conditions.

Local media confirmed that the captain had also perished in the tragedy.

The inquest will also entail closer examinations of the wreckage and assessing whether the ferry and the operators had indeed complied with regulations.

Baird Maritime tracks global passenger vessel accidents in its comprehensive database, which can be accessed here.