Antony Chawagarira
KARIBA — The use of a ferry to transport people between Kariba Town and communities in Nyaminyami has come under scrutiny following the recent Lake Kariba tragedy, with questions being raised over why travellers did not use road transport.
However, geography and the history of the area provide important context to the reliance on water transport.
Travelling by road from Kariba Town to parts of Nyaminyami can involve a considerably longer journey through areas including Karoi, Magunje, Kasvisva, Kamusamba and Karume before reaching destinations that can be accessed more directly across Lake Kariba.
The ferry therefore provides communities with a shorter and more direct connection across the lake, reducing the distance and travel time compared to travelling around the lake by road.
For communities living along the lake, water transport is not a new development. The route has reportedly been used for decades, dating back to the 1980s, and has become an important link between communities separated by Lake Kariba.
The geography of the area means that what may appear to outsiders as an unusual choice of transport is, for local residents, a practical means of connecting communities, accessing services and moving between settlements.
The tragedy involving the Mbuya Nehanda ferry has nevertheless brought renewed attention to safety on Lake Kariba, particularly the need to ensure that vessels operating on the lake comply with safety regulations, passenger limits and other requirements.
As investigations into the disaster continue, questions around the ferry’s operations, passenger capacity and safety measures are expected to remain central to efforts to prevent a recurrence.
For residents of Nyaminyami and surrounding areas, the challenge is therefore not simply choosing between a ferry and a bus, but finding ways of maintaining an essential transport link while ensuring that passengers are protected.
Lake Kariba has for decades shaped the movement and livelihoods of communities on its shores. The tragedy has highlighted the risks associated with water transport, but it has also underscored the geographical realities that make such services important to the people who depend on them.
