South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended condolences to Zimbabwe following the Lake Kariba ferry tragedy that claimed the lives of 44 people. Rama...
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended condolences to Zimbabwe following the Lake Kariba ferry tragedy that claimed the lives of 44 people.
Ramaphosa expressed South Africa’s solidarity with Zimbabwe and offered condolences to the families of those who died, survivors and families still waiting for information about relatives who remain missing.
He also wished those who survived the accident a speedy recovery and paid tribute to emergency personnel involved in the response.
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The ferry capsized on Lake Kariba on Tuesday, with authorities reporting that 44 people had died. Rescue operations have continued as teams search the lake and assist survivors and affected families.
The scale of the disaster has also raised questions about the safety of the vessel and the circumstances surrounding the accident. The Associated Press reported that the ferry was believed to have been carrying as many as 153 people, while authorities said its capacity was 90.
Survivors told Zimbabwe’s state broadcaster that passengers had raised concerns about the strong waves and urged the captain to turn back before the ferry capsized. One surviving crew member said water was entering the engine room and goods were falling from the vessel before it went down.
Zimbabwe’s disaster management authorities said 77 people had been rescued. The exact number of people who were on board remained unclear because children below the ticketing age may not have been included in passenger records.
The ferry was operating as a transport link for people from rural communities around Lake Kariba travelling to Kariba town. The disaster has therefore affected communities that depend on the lake for transport and access to services.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa also sent messages of condolence to families of those who died in the accident. He described the incident as a tragedy that had exposed serious deficiencies in Zimbabwe’s maritime capabilities.
Mnangagwa called on relevant government agencies to address the shortcomings and take an active role in implementing measures aimed at preventing similar disasters in the future.
The Zimbabwean president also declared the ferry disaster a state of disaster, allowing the government to mobilise additional resources and emergency measures to respond to the tragedy.
The incident has prompted renewed attention to maritime safety on Lake Kariba. The lake is a major transport route for communities living around its shores and is shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia.
The Associated Press reported that Lake Kariba is the world’s largest man-made lake by volume. It stretches for more than 200 kilometres and reaches about 40 kilometres at its widest points.
Ramaphosa’s message comes as rescue and recovery operations continue in Zimbabwe. His expression of solidarity adds to the messages of support being received by the country following one of its deadliest recent ferry accidents.
For families affected by the disaster, the immediate focus remains on the recovery of those still missing and supporting survivors. Emergency teams continue to work at the scene while authorities assess the circumstances that led to the ferry capsizing.
The tragedy has also placed the country’s maritime safety systems under scrutiny, following Mnangagwa’s acknowledgement that deficiencies need to be addressed. The government is expected to focus on remedial measures aimed at preventing similar accidents in the future.
South Africa and Zimbabwe share close regional ties, and Ramaphosa’s message reflects the support being offered to Zimbabwe as the country deals with the deaths and the ongoing recovery operation.
