Zimbabwe Boat Disaster: Death Toll Rises to 68 as 22 More Bodies Recovered

The death toll from the Lake Kariba ferry disaster in Zimbabwe has risen to 68 after rescuers recovered 22 additional bodies, authorities said on Saturday.

The ferry, named Mbuya Nehanda, capsized on August 11 while travelling from the lakeside town of Kariba to remote rural and fishing communities in northwestern Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed the latest figure, saying the newly recovered bodies had brought the confirmed death toll to 68. Search and recovery operations are continuing as authorities work to locate other possible victims.

At least 18 children are among those who died, according to police. A subsequent police list showed that 16 of the child victims were aged 10 or younger, with the youngest reported to be just one year old.

The ferry was designed to carry about 90 passengers, but ticket records indicated that 114 adults and five crew members were aboard. Authorities have said the total number may have been significantly higher because some children did not require tickets.

Estimates have put the number of people on board at as many as 153. Seventy-seven people have so far been rescued, although the exact number of missing passengers remains difficult to establish.

Investigations indicate that the vessel was overloaded and capsized amid strong winds and rough water on Lake Kariba. Survivors have described a desperate struggle as the ferry began taking on water before overturning.

The disaster has raised fresh questions about safety standards and the condition of vessels operating on Lake Kariba, which is a vital transport route for communities living around the vast reservoir.

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa previously declared the incident a state of disaster and acknowledged shortcomings in the country’s maritime safety systems.

Relatives of victims have gathered to identify recovered bodies as search teams continue their work on the lake.

The latest tragedy is among the deadliest ferry disasters reported in Zimbabwe and has renewed calls for stricter enforcement of passenger limits, improved vessel maintenance and stronger safety measures on the country’s inland waterways.