- The vessel, which had left in the morning in bad weather according to a witness who spoke to AFP, may have been hit by a wave and overturned.
- The AP news agency quoted Zimbabwe's Civil Protection Unit as saying that registered ticket sales showed 114 adults were on board the vessel.
- There could also have been an unknown number of children below ticketing age, it added.
- Mutsa Murombedzi, a local member of parliament, shared what she said was the boat at the start of the journey, adding that locals had been using it to travel across the lake to Kariba town, a journey that takes about five hours.
- Murombedzi wrote: "We have very hard questions that require honest answers. The officials must release the correct number of people who were onboard."
- Police said more details, including the number of people who have died and those rescued, will be "released in due course".
A boat capsized on Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe, on Tuesday, with 90 passengers and five crew members reported aboard. However, the AP news agency indicated that registered ticket sales suggested as many as 114 adults may have been on the vessel, raising concerns about potential overloading.2
Witnesses reported that the boat had departed in bad weather, and it is believed that it may have been struck by a wave, causing it to overturn. Local MP Mutsa Murombedzi emphasized the need for transparency, stating, "We have very hard questions that require honest answers. The officials must release the correct number of people who were onboard."1
Authorities have confirmed that there could also have been an unknown number of children below ticketing age on board. Police stated that more details regarding the number of casualties and rescues will be "released in due course." The incident has raised serious safety concerns regarding the operation of vessels on the lake, particularly in adverse weather conditions.3
As investigations continue, the community awaits further information on the tragic event, which has left many families anxious about their loved ones' fates.
“Registered ticket sales showed 114 adults were on board, with an unknown number of children below ticketing age. Local MP Mutsa Murombedzi demanded officials release the correct number of people onboard, saying 'We have very hard questions that require honest answers.'”
