Harare, August 20: The President of the African Union (AU) Commission, Mahmoud Ali Yusuf, expressed condolences to the government and people of Zimbabwe following the tragic ferry accident on Lake Kariba. The incident has claimed 94 lives.
Yusuf shared his sympathies on the social media platform X, stating, “In this difficult time of sorrow, my thoughts and prayers are with the affected families and survivors of this tragic event. I wish them strength, comfort, and the power to recover from this profound grief.”
He emphasized that the AU stands in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe and the affected communities.
According to reports from Xinhua News Agency, official figures indicate that as of Tuesday, 77 passengers have been rescued, 94 bodies have been recovered, and fewer than ten individuals remain missing.
A cabinet minister announced that the Zimbabwean government has initiated a formal investigation into the ferry capsizing incident on Lake Kariba.
Acting Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa, informed the media in Harare after a cabinet meeting that preliminary investigations reveal that the passenger ferry, which capsized on August 11, was carrying approximately 180 passengers and cargo, exceeding its capacity.
Reports suggest that the vessel overturned after being struck by strong waves. Mutsvangwa noted that the government had acknowledged that the meteorological department had previously issued warnings advising against sailing on the lake.
As of August 18, 77 passengers had been rescued, and 93 bodies recovered, while seven individuals, confirmed by their relatives to have been on board, remain missing.
Mutsvangwa confirmed that a formal investigation has commenced, focusing on the vessel’s structure and compliance with operational regulations.
During the same press conference, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe attributed the accident to human error and negligence on the part of the captain. The captain ignored early warnings from the meteorological department and continued the journey despite advisories against sailing.
Garwe dismissed speculation that the vessel was unseaworthy, confirming that it possessed a valid fitness certificate issued by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development.
The cabinet has approved a comprehensive investigation to determine the circumstances under which the captain disregarded early warnings and safety regulations.
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