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🇿🇼 Zimbabwe /Disasters & Emergencies

Ferry Captain Wholly to Blame for Lake Kariba Disaster - Says Govt in Defence of 41-Year-Old Boat

From AllAfrica Zimbabwe · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Official statement Outcome reported
  • The Zimbabwean government has blamed the captain of the Mbuya Nehanda ferry, Sign Patsikadova, for the Kariba disaster that resulted in at least 94 deaths.
  • Minister Daniel Garwe stated the captain disregarded warnings from the Meteorological Department about developing strong waves.
  • The ferry, designed for 90 people, was carrying over 100 passengers and cargo when it capsized on August 11, an event declared a national disaster.

Zimbabwean authorities have officially attributed the Kariba disaster, which claimed at least 94 lives, to the negligence of the Mbuya Nehanda ferry's captain, Sign Patsikadova. The government stated that the captain ignored explicit warnings from the Meteorological Department regarding dangerous wave conditions.

We are advised that the Meteorological Department advised sailors to stop all sailing on the fateful day because there were some strong waves developing on the Binga side.

— Daniel GarweMinister Daniel Garwe explaining the weather warnings issued before the Mbuya Nehanda ferry disaster.

Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe announced at a post-cabinet briefing that the Meteorological Department had advised against sailing on the day of the incident due to developing strong waves on the Binga side of the lake. "The boat captain for this specific boat disregarded those early warning messages and proceeded with the journey," Garwe stated.

Garwe also highlighted that the ferry, officially a 90-seater vessel owned by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), was significantly overloaded. "The boat had a fitness certificate, it was certified by the Transport Ministry. The problems that occured were as a result of negligence and human error by the captain of the boat," he added. The ferry was carrying over 100 people, along with luggage and livestock, when it capsized while en route to fishing communities in Binga.

The boat captain for this specific boat disregarded those early warning messages and proceeded with the journey.

— Daniel GarweMinister Daniel Garwe directly blaming the ferry captain for ignoring weather advisories.

The Kariba disaster, which occurred on August 11, has been declared a national disaster. It is now considered one of Zimbabwe's worst accidents, comparable to the 1972 Kamandama Mine disaster that killed 427 miners. Formal investigations are underway, including an examination of the vessel's structural integrity.

The boat had a fitness certificate, it was certified by the Transport Ministry. The problems that occured were as a result of negligence and human error by the captain of the boat.

— Daniel GarweMinister Daniel Garwe addressing concerns about the ferry's age and condition, attributing the disaster to the captain's actions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by AllAfrica Zimbabwe. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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