HARARE, August 13 — At least 44 people have died after a passenger boat capsized in strong winds on Lake Kariba in northern Zimbabwe, prompting President Emmerson Mnangagwa to declare the tragedy a “national disaster.”
The incident occurred on the afternoon of August 11 on the vast reservoir, which straddles the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. According to a statement from the Zimbabwean government on Tuesday, the vessel was carrying at least 119 adults, alongside an unconfirmed number of children, when it was struck by severe weather and overturned.
Zimbabwean police confirmed the death toll of 44 on Tuesday, as rescue teams continued to scour the waters. The exact number of missing passengers remains unclear due to the lack of a precise passenger manifest, complicating the ongoing search and rescue operations.
President Mnangagwa expressed profound grief over the loss of life, officially designating the event a national disaster and ordering a comprehensive investigation into the vessel’s safety compliance and the circumstances surrounding the sudden squall.
Lake Kariba, the world’s largest human-made lake by volume, is a vital transport artery and tourism hub for the region. However, it has a history of maritime accidents, often involving overcrowded vessels and sudden, severe weather shifts. Authorities have reiterated urgent calls for stricter enforcement of maritime safety regulations and passenger limits to prevent further tragedies on the lake.