President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended his condolences to Zimbabwe following the deaths of at least 44 people in a ferry disaster on Lake Kariba, as search and recovery operations continue and questions grow over the vessel’s overcrowding and safety.
The ferry capsized on Tuesday amid strong winds and rough conditions on Lake Kariba, which borders Zimbabwe and Zambia. The disaster has since been declared a national disaster by Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, allowing the government to mobilise additional resources for the emergency response.
In his message of condolence, Ramaphosa expressed sympathy to the families who lost loved ones as well as those still waiting for news about relatives who remain unaccounted for.
The South African president also wished those who survived the tragedy a speedy recovery and paid tribute to emergency workers involved in the rescue and recovery operation.
“President Ramaphosa extends his sympathies to the families of those who died and to those still awaiting news of their loved ones,” the presidency said, according to eNCA.
The latest death toll of 44 represents a sharp increase from the initial reports after the ferry overturned. Zimbabwean authorities initially reported 15 deaths and 27 people missing, but more bodies were recovered as police, army personnel and specialist underwater teams intensified the search.
The number of people who were actually aboard the ferry remains uncertain. Authorities said at least 114 adult passenger tickets had been issued and five crew members were aboard, while other reports put the total number of people on the vessel as high as 153, including children who may not have been counted in official ticketing figures. The ferry was reportedly designed to carry about 90 people.
Overcrowding and the weather conditions are among the factors being examined as authorities investigate the disaster. Reuters reported that police believed the vessel may have been overloaded when it capsized in heavy winds. At least 67 people had been rescued and taken to a nearby primary school for medical attention, according to police.
Survivors have also given harrowing accounts of what happened before the ferry overturned. Some told Zimbabwean state broadcaster ZBC that passengers had urged the captain to turn back as the waves became increasingly dangerous. One survivor said water was entering the engine room while goods were falling overboard.
Another survivor said passengers had raised concerns about the conditions before the ferry eventually capsized. The captain was among those who died in the disaster.
The ferry was being used to transport people from rural communities around Lake Kariba to Kariba town. The lake, created by the construction of the Kariba Dam on the Zambezi River, is one of the region’s most important waterways and is also a major source of hydroelectric power for Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The tragedy has renewed concerns about passenger safety on the lake, particularly the condition and capacity of vessels operating in waters that can experience dangerous weather conditions.
As rescue and recovery teams continue their work, authorities are expected to establish the full circumstances surrounding the capsizing, including the number of people on board, whether the ferry was overloaded and whether safety procedures were followed.
For families waiting for news of missing relatives, the search remains a race against time, while the recovery operation continues to bring victims back to shore.
Ramaphosa’s message comes as Zimbabwe grapples with one of its deadliest recent water transport disasters, with the South African president joining regional leaders in expressing solidarity with the neighbouring country and the families affected.
