Antony Chawagarira
Appeals for Zimbabwe to declare a National Day of Mourning for victims of the Kariba boat tragedy are growing, with legislators and members of the community saying the country needs to unite in grief and remembrance.
In messages to government on social media, social media socialites appealed to Government to declare a National Day of Mourning in honour of those who lost their lives in the disaster.
“President Mnangagwa, following the tragic Kariba incident, we respectfully appeal to you to declare a National Day of Mourning in honour of those who lost their lives,” said one socialite .
He said such a declaration would give Zimbabweans an opportunity to stand together in grief, solidarity and remembrance with families affected by the disaster.
The call comes as the death toll from the Mbuya Nehanda boat tragedy has risen to 95, with fears that the final number could surpass the death toll recorded in Zimbabwe’s worst road accident.
The Nyanga bus disaster of August 3, 1991 claimed 89 lives, including 82 schoolchildren, when a bus plunged into the Pungwe River gorge.
Decades later, the Kariba tragedy has surpassed that figure.
The coincidence that both disasters occurred in August has added poignancy to calls for a broader national remembrance of victims of major transport tragedies.
Speaking from Kariba,Tuthukani Maseko , a community member, said a National Day of Mourning would allow the country to collectively grieve with affected families.
“This tragedy has touched every Zimbabwean. People are grieving even if they did not personally know the victims. A national day would give us an opportunity to come together as one people and remember those who have been lost,” he said.
Another resident Samukheliso Ngwenya said the declaration would also help keep the circumstances surrounding the disaster in the national consciousness.
“We should not simply mourn and move on. We must remember the victims and also ask what can be done to prevent another tragedy of this magnitude,” he said.
A prominent community church leader, Pastor Sizimisele Dube, said the scale of the disaster warranted a national response.
“These are not just statistics. Behind every number is a parent, child, sibling, relative or friend. Families are carrying an unbearable loss, and the whole nation should stand with them,” he said.
A local business operator said the tragedy had left communities in Kariba deeply traumatised.
“Kariba is a community that depends heavily on the lake and tourism. This tragedy has affected everyone. We need national solidarity, but we also need lessons to be drawn from what happened,” he said.
Beyond mourning the Kariba victims, there are suggestions that Zimbabwe could establish a national remembrance framework to honour victims of major transport disasters and promote reflection on safety measures.
Such an approach could ensure that the lessons from past tragedies are preserved and used to strengthen transport safety, emergency preparedness and disaster response systems.
The Kariba tragedy has triggered a national outpouring of grief, with Government, civic organisations, churches, community groups and individuals joining families of the victims in mourning while search and recovery efforts continue.
The proposed National Day of Mourning would provide a solemn occasion for the nation to collectively remember those who died and stand in solidarity with bereaved families.
It could also become an opportunity for Zimbabweans to reflect on the importance of strengthening safety standards across the country’s road, rail, aviation and water transport sectors.
