<\/p>\n
With a very heavy heart I am writing to tell you of a terrible, terrible tragedy that has taken place in Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday 11 August, on a windy day in rough water, the Kariba Ferry KF 551, over 40 years old and owned by the government, set sail from Kariba harbour for villages and fishing communities on the shoreline of the lake.<\/p>\n
Read: Silent resignation has fallen across Zimbabwe<\/p>\n
The ferry is owned by the government\u2019s Rural Infrastructure Development Agency and operates under the Office of the President and cabinet.<\/p>\n
Kariba is a huge lake on the border with Zambia. It is 223km to 280km long, up to 40km wide, and covers 5 580km2.<\/p>\n
It is a prime tourist destination in Zimbabwe as well as home to many thousands of people who live in communities along the shoreline.<\/p>\n
Safety warning<\/p>\n
Reports indicated that a general safety warning had been issued by the Water and Inland Department\u2019s Lake Captain, advising boats and ferries not to sail due to dangerous waves and strong winds that day.<\/p>\n
The ferry, named Mbuya Nehanda and authorised to carry 90 passengers, left Kariba harbour that windy morning.<\/p>\n
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The Civil Protection Unit said 114 adults, five crew members and an unspecified number of children were on board.<\/p>\n
Children under four are apparently not ticketed and were therefore not specifically logged on the manifest.<\/p>\n
Tragically, the number of people who were on the ferry was far, far higher than it should have been.<\/p>\n
Terrifying <\/p>\n
Crew member Anymore Chambati, who did ticketing and safekeeping of money on the ferry, said he had counted 153 people on board, including crew members.<\/p>\n
He described the terrifying situation minutes before the ferry capsized to to the\u00a0Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople were screaming as water started getting into the boat. Luggage was falling into the water and everyone was trying to find a way to survive,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe could not locate the machine we use to drain water, it might have fallen off as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Aside from the extreme overcrowding of the ferry, there was also a large amount of luggage and commercial cargo, much of which a survivor said had been loaded on top of life jackets \u2013 making them inaccessible to passengers when disaster struck.<\/p>\n
Why it was not mandatory for all passengers to be wearing life jackets before the boat left the harbour is unknown.<\/p>\n
The ferry started taking on water about 30 minutes after it left Kariba and capsized about 16km from Kariba harbour, near Long Island.<\/p>\n
Rescue mission<\/p>\n
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National Parks, police and boats from resorts on the lake \u2013 along with individuals, other boat crews, tourists and private companies \u2013 immediately assisted in the rescue mission, providing more life jackets, lifting people out of the water, and taking them to safety.<\/p>\n
There were so many heroes on that tragic day. It could have been so much worse without them all.<\/p>\n
Kariba Ferry KF 551 was authorised to carry 90 passengers but was carrying at least 171 people that day \u2013\u00a0almost double its capacity. The Civil Protection Unit said 77 people were rescued, and at the time of writing 94 bodies have been recovered. The search for others continues.<\/p>\n
Read:
The mongoose and these cold, dark days
Things have changed for Zimbabweans in SA \u2026<\/p>\n
Voices are growing for a full, independent investigation into how this tragedy happened, if the ferry was properly licensed, inspected and certified, whether passenger capacity limits and safety regulations were observed and if the operators, regulators and public officials had failed in their duties.<\/p>\n
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said: \u201cThe bereaved families, the survivors, and the public have a right to know what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zimbabwe is heartbroken at this terrible, terrible tragedy; our thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences are with the families of all those who lost their lives.<\/p>\n
Please keep them in your thoughts and hearts at this unbearably painful time.<\/p>\n
\u00a9 Cathy Buckle<\/p>\n
#tragedy #Kariba #ferry<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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