Ramaphosa Sends Condolences After 44 Die in Zimbabwe Ferry Tragedy
- At least 44 people died when the Mbuya Nehanda ferry capsized on Lake Kariba on 11 August 2026
- Survivor accounts suggest as many as 153 people were on board a vessel with a stated capacity of 90
- President Ramaphosa extended South Africa's condolences as Zimbabwe declared a state of disaster
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Source: Twitter
SOUTH AFRICA — President Cyril Ramaphosa has offered his condolences to Zimbabwe following a ferry disaster on Lake Kariba that claimed at least 44 lives, with rescue and recovery efforts still under way.
The Mbuya Nehanda ferry overturned on Tuesday, 11 August 2026, while in transit between Kariba town and rural communities in Mashonaland West. Zimbabwean authorities initially reported that 90 passengers and five crew members were aboard the vessel when it capsized.
Ramaphosa expressed solidarity with Zimbabwe in a formal statement.
"As South Africans, we stand in solidarity today with the nation of Zimbabwe as we mourn this extensive loss of life," he said. He also wished those who survived a full recovery and recognised the efforts of emergency personnel involved in the response.
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Questions over passenger numbers and safety
Subsequent reports raised serious doubts about the official passenger count. An incident report from Zimbabwe's Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) indicated that 114 adults had purchased tickets, and noted that young children below ticketing age may not have been captured in the records. A surviving crew member told Zimbabwe's state broadcaster that as many as 153 people, including infants and crew, were on board — well above the ferry's stated capacity of 90.
Survivors described chaotic scenes in the moments before the vessel went down. Some passengers reportedly urged the captain to turn back due to rough lake conditions. Others described water flooding into the engine room and cargo being washed overboard as the ferry listed. Passengers scrambled for life jackets as the vessel took on water.
Zimbabwean media outlet ZimLive reported that the vessel may have been in service since the 1980s. Reports have also emerged that warnings advising boats not to sail due to dangerous waves were issued on the day of the tragedy.
Mnangagwa declares state of disaster
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the incident a state of disaster, enabling the government to deploy additional resources for rescue operations and support for families of victims.
Authorities are expected to investigate the vessel's condition, the circumstances surrounding passenger numbers, and whether safety protocols were observed prior to and during the journey, in what is considered one of Zimbabwe's deadliest ferry incidents in recent years.
Mnangagwa declares another state disaster
Briefly News also reported that President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa said the people of Zimbabwe are suffering from severe hunger caused by the current drought, which he declared a national disaster. The country needs billions to ensure the citizens don’t starve to death. Almost three million people are expected to starve because 80% of the country has received low rainfall this year.
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Source: Briefly News
