Rescue teams continue search operations as CPU calls for state of disaster declaration following Lake Kariba tragedy

Kariba — The death toll from Tuesday’s devastating boat capsizing on Lake Kariba has risen to 15, with 27 passengers still unaccounted for as rescue operations enter their second day, officials confirmed early Wednesday.

The vessel, operated by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (formerly DDF), was carrying at least 119 people, far exceeding its official carrying capacity of 90, when it capsized on Lake Kariba.

According to an official statement from the Civil Protection Unit (CPU), the boat had 114 adult passengers confirmed through ticket records, five crew members, and an undisclosed number of children below ticketing age.

“Fifteen bodies have been retrieved, and two funeral parlours have been engaged to collect these bodies for processing,” said Cecilia Chitiyo, Director of L.G.S for Mashonaland West Province, in the official statement.

“So far, 77 passengers have been rescued by Matusadonha rescue teams and others.”

The rescued passengers are currently sheltered on Long Island in the lake, with CPU having mobilized additional boats to bring them to shore, an operation that is ongoing.

A sub-aqua unit has been airlifted to the scene to conduct underwater search and rescue operations. “This is the report to date, but you will be continuously updated as the search and rescue unfolds,” Chitiyo added.

The disaster has reignited concerns about deteriorating road infrastructure around Kariba, which has forced more travelers to rely on the lake’s maritime transport network. Kariba’s potential as a premier tourist destination has been consistently undermined by poor road conditions, with stakeholders raising concerns over government neglect of the region’s infrastructure . Zimbabwe’s road network has suffered from years of neglect, with many roads in a state of disrepair, pushing both commercial and passenger traffic toward Lake Kariba’s aging fleet of vessels .

The CPU has recommended that the accident be declared a state of disaster, a designation that would unlock additional government resources for the ongoing rescue effort and support for affected families.