Thu 13 August 2026:

The death toll from a ferry accident in Zimbabwe rose to 44 on Wednesday as President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the incident a state of disaster.

The vessel sank on Lake Kariba on Tuesday after it was hit by a strong wave and overturned, according to police.

The boat was built to carry 90 passengers, but more than 120 people may have been aboard as it crossed the lake bordering Zambia, police said in a statement.

The passengers included 12 children, according to the statement.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police informs the public that the death toll in the Kariba boat accident is now 44,” it added.

As search and rescue operations intensified, 77 people have so far been rescued from the boat, which provides transport between Kariba town, which borders neighboring Zambia, and several islands and fishing camps.

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The disaster has renewed concerns about overcrowding, ageing vessels, safety enforcement and emergency response on Lake Kariba, which has experienced other fatal boat accidents in recent years.

Ferry disasters have repeatedly occurred across Africa, particularly on Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Kariba, where boats are vital transport links for communities living around large lakes.

One of the continent’s worst incidents was the 1996 MV Bukoba disaster in Tanzania. The ferry capsized on Lake Victoria, killing 894 people. Investigations and later assessments pointed to overloading, inadequate maintenance and weak enforcement of safety rules.

In 2018, Tanzania suffered another major tragedy when the MV Nyerere capsized on Lake Victoria. The ferry had a capacity of about 100 passengers, while far more people were believed to be aboard. 228 people died. Overloading and a sharp turn were identified among the key factors.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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