Police have released the names of 44 of the 46 people who died after a passenger ferry owned by the Rural Infrastructure Development Authority capsized near Long Island on Lake Kariba on Tuesday afternoon.
President Mnangagwa has since declared the Kariba boat tragedy a State of Disaster.
According to the police information availed, the captain indicated that the vessel had 120 people on board heading from Kariba to Chalala (108 adults and 12 children). However, police investigations suggest the ferry might have been carrying more passengers.
Among the dead was the captain of the Mbuya Nehanda ferry.
In a statement, the national police spokesperson, Commissioner Paul Nyathi, said: “Reference is made to the Zimbabwe Republic Police’s post on the X platform regarding the Rural Infrastructure Development Authority (RIDA) boat accident which occurred on 11 August 2026 in Lake Kariba. The Zimbabwe Republic Police releases the names of 44 victims who were identified by their next of kin.”
They are the boat captain, Sign Patsikadova (59), a male adult of 2999 Batonga, Kariba; Smart Siamandonga (54), a male adult of Kalundu Village, Mola; Shelton Magora (10), a male juvenile of 2161 Batonga, Kariba; Hazvinei Chasara (39), a female adult of 1050 Nyamhunga 2, Kariba; Shalom Ndere (9), a female juvenile of 879 Nyamhunga 2, Kariba; Mukudzei Kangwara (2), a male juvenile of 1166 Nyamhunga 2, Kariba; Isabel Sango (50), a female adult of 879 Nyamhunga 2, Kariba; Ratidzai Tasara (50), a female adult of 5410 Mukoba, Gweru; Debra Chadenga (49), a female adult of 5961 Kuwadzana 7, Harare; Olain Siyachuka (2 years 7 months), a female juvenile of Nego Village, Chief Mola; Tamari Matsangu, a female adult; Plaxedix Madiro (42), a female adult of 1536 Nyamhunga 3, Kariba; Chipo Muzinda Chitsamba (37), a female adult of Musipa Village, Chief Shumba, Masvingo; Spiwe Aggiffa Katore (61), a female adult of DDF Staff Quarters; Lucia Mereki, a female adult of Siakaloba Village, Chief Mola; Shupikai Makawu, a female adult of Mangwara Village, Chief Mola; Enita Mazhomba, a female adult of Ngwara Village, Chief Mola; Memory Chaka, a female adult of Hurungwe Prison, Karoi; Cain Nzerombairi, a male juvenile of Nyawanda Farm, Karoi; Average Murambatsvina, a male juvenile of 2559 Batonga, Nyamhunga, Kariba; Permission Nzerombairi, a male adult of Nyawanda Farm, Karoi; Keresiya Dhumbura (40), a female adult of 705 Nyamhunga 2, Kariba; Kelly Busumani (4), a female juvenile of 8774 Chiedza, Karoi; Alubo Nzira (6), a female juvenile of Kalundu Village, Chief Mola; Sabhuku Zvamoyo; Wishmore Charindapanze (4), a male juvenile of 1625 Nyamhunga 3, Kariba; Mcdonald Nyasha Gumpo (1 year 2 months), a male juvenile of 705 Nyamhunga 2, Kariba; Anisha Chipuma (6), a female juvenile of 220 Nyamhunga 1, Kariba; Lael Samanyanga (1 year 6 months), a male juvenile of Hurungwe, Karoi; Gomo Tapiwa (39), a male adult of Hurungwe Prison, Karoi; Patience Ndebele (3), a female juvenile of Giachimba 1 Village, Chief Sinakatenge; Connic Mutale (2), a male juvenile of King’s Camp, Kariba; and Hailly Tauro (1 year 2 months), a male juvenile of 523 Nyamhunga 1, Kariba.
Others are Wendy Ndandarika (1), a female juvenile of 1233 Nyamhunga 3, Kariba; Petronella Lembani (26), a female adult of Claudia, Karoi; Nashrey Pensula (5), a female juvenile of Claudia, Karoi; Anashe Pensula (3), a male juvenile of Claudia, Karoi; Precious Nyajina (57), a female adult of Corner Store, Seke, Chitungwiza; Constance Siampongo (37), a female adult of Chilimamba Village, Chief Mola; Daisy Siachiwa (23), a female adult of Mangwara Village, Chief Mola; Luoisa Kayi (24), a female adult of 328 Nyamhunga 1, Kariba; Handespike Charindapanze (54), a male adult of Msamba Fishing Camps; Susan Muntanga (41), a female adult of Padenga Holdings Staff Quarters; Moleen Mandirera (34), a female adult of Nyawanda Farm, Karoi; and Marven Dope (46), a male adult of 2 Oversees, Mola.
“The Zimbabwe Republic Police advises members of the public and the media that identification of the remaining recovered bodies is still in progress. The Police continues to work closely with relevant stakeholders and the affected families in the identification and recovery process. The Police will release further information as and when new developments arise,” Comm Nyathi said.
The vessel, formerly under the Department of District Development Fund and now run by RIDA, was caught by strong winds locally known as the Binga Wave during the leg from Kariba town to Chalala Fishing Camp, taking on water through the cabin as the crew battled to keep it afloat.
Video footage taken as it departed on that leg of its voyage shows the boat already labouring in choppy waters moments before it went under, with passengers watching helplessly as the water rose around them.
The localised weather bulletin for the lake had indicated largely calm conditions and light breezes, with the high-pressure ridge extending from South Africa up into Zimbabwe and Zambia.
That same bulletin, however, flagged a strengthening South Indian Ocean anticyclone, bringing a moderate gradient and light-to-moderate north-easterly to south-easterly airflow. Winds were expected to reach Force 1 to Force 2 and occasionally Force 3 in the afternoon.
Mariners had been cautioned to watch for localised choppy conditions as afternoon winds increased over exposed sections of the lake—precisely the conditions in which the ferry capsized.
Comm Nyathi said the victims who had been rescued were taken to Mahombe-kombe Primary School Command Centre for medical attention and further management.
The Herald