Zimbabwe: survivor recounts horror as ferry capsizes on Lake Kariba

A Rural Infrastructural Development Agency security officer who survived the Mbuya Nehanda ferry disaster on Zimbabwe's Lake Kariba has given a harrowing account of the vessel's final moments before it capsized. The officer said 153 people were on board when the boat went down, offering one of the first detailed testimonies of the disaster.

The survivor described passengers screaming in panic as the vessel began taking on water, with many struggling to reach life jackets before it capsized. Rescue teams have continued search operations in the area since the disaster, though authorities have not yet finalized an official death toll.

An investigation into the sinking is now underway, with officials examining whether the vessel was overloaded beyond its rated capacity and whether adequate safety measures were in place. The disaster has reignited concerns over the safety of inland water transport across the region, where ferries remain a vital but often poorly regulated mode of travel.