KARIBA, Aug. 12 (NewsDay Live) — Kariba MP Shine Gwangwava says his sister, Matilda Musemwa Gwangwava, a 42-year-old mother of three was among the missing persons after the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) ferry capsized on Lake Kariba on Tuesday.
Gwangwava said Matilda was travelling from Kariba town to Mola rural area to visit their parents when the ferry overturned near Long Island.
“She was coming from Kariba town and going to Mola rural. She wanted to visit our parents' rural home,” Gwangwava told NewsDay on Wednesday morning.
Gwangwava said he last spoke to his sister three days before the disaster.
She was one of 21 children in their family — 13 girls and eight boys.
Gwangwava confirmed that 13 bodies had been recovered by Wednesday morning, correcting an earlier government figure of 15.
Rescue teams have so far pulled dozens of survivors from the water, although casualty figures remained fluid as authorities continued searching for missing passengers.
A Sub-Aqua Unit was airlifted to the scene to assist with the search, but strong winds in Kariba were affecting the rescue operations, he said.
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“Currently there are stronger winds in Kariba and this may affect the search but we hope they will resume once it's settled. It may take longer than expected since the winds determine if it is possible to continue searching,” a source in the resort town said.
The disaster has also prompted Gwangwava to call for urgent investment in transport infrastructure serving communities around Kariba.
He said residents travelling between Kariba town and rural areas under Chiefs Mola, Negande, Msampakaruma and Siakobvu had limited transport options, forcing many to rely on boats.
“We are urging our government to rehabilitate our Karoi-Bumi Hills road. By doing so many transport operators will ply the route and passengers will have options,” he said.
“Secondly, we need some other alternatives in well serviced boats with some tender boats to rescue people in case of emergency.”
According to the Ministry of Local Government, the ferry was carrying 114 adults, five crew members and an undisclosed number of children, despite having a stated capacity of 90 people.
Mashonaland West provincial director Cecilia Chitiyo has recommended that the accident be declared a State of Disaster.
The vessel, named Mbuya Nehanda, reportedly began operating in 1983.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police has urged the public and media to refrain from publishing casualty figures until scene management is complete.
