Zimbabwe Official Arrested Over Lake Kariba Ferry Disaster
Kariba Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) District Coordinator Ignatius Chiome, 49, has been arrested and charged with culpable homicide over the Lake Kariba ferry disaster that killed 97 people. Chiome appeared in court and was remanded in custody as investigations continue into Zimbabwe’s deadliest recorded maritime accident.
The RIDA-operated Mbuya Nehanda ferry capsized on August 11 while travelling from Kariba to Chalala. The ferry capsized after encountering rough conditions on the lake, triggering a massive search-and-rescue operation involving police, local boat operators and other emergency teams.
Authorities later said the vessel was severely overloaded beyond its authorised capacity of 90 passengers.
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The death toll from the Rida Mbuya Nehanda ferry disaster on Lake Kariba has risen to 97. This makes it Zimbabwe’s deadliest transport tragedy, surpassing the 1991 Nyanga bus disaster, which killed 89 people. Eight more bodies were recovered, with some found far from the crash site, while six remain unidentified and authorities may turn to DNA testing as decomposition makes identification difficult.
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![A Photo of a Kapenta Rig on lake Kariba on the Zimbabwe/Zambia border (file photo).]()
According to an official report, the boat was severely overloaded at the time of the accident.
So far, 77 passengers have been rescued by Matusadonha rescue teams and other responders. The survivors are currently on Long Island on the lake.
The Kariba ferry that capsized.
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