Antony Chawagarira
Vatican – Pope Leo XIV has expressed deep sorrow over the Lake Kariba ferry disaster, offering condolences and prayers to families of the victims as the death toll from the tragedy has risen to more than 90.
The Pope conveyed his message in a telegram dated August 18 and signed on his behalf by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Pope Leo said he was “deeply saddened” to learn of the fatal ferry accident on Lake Kariba, entrusting the souls of those who died “to the loving mercy of Almighty God” and sending his “heartfelt condolences” to those mourning their loss.
He also prayed for civil authorities and emergency personnel involved in the continuing rescue and recovery operations, invoking blessings of “consolation, healing and strength” upon all those affected.
The ferry capsized on August 11 while travelling from Kariba Town towards remote communities and fishing camps on Lake Kariba.
The vessel, which was authorised to carry 90 passengers, is believed to have been heavily overloaded. Government and other reports have put the number of people aboard at significantly above the vessel’s approved capacity. More than about 180 passengers may have been aboard, while earlier reports had placed the number at around 153.
Strong waves were reported at the time of the accident, with the overloaded vessel eventually capsizing and sinking.
The disaster has since become Zimbabwe’s deadliest transport tragedy, surpassing the Nyanga bus disaster of 1991, which claimed 89 lives. At least 77 people have been rescued, while search and recovery teams continue efforts to locate and recover victims from the lake.
The Pope’s message comes as Zimbabwe continues to grapple with the scale of the tragedy, which has triggered nationwide mourning and renewed scrutiny of safety standards governing passenger transport on Lake Kariba.
Leo’s recent telegram is the third sent in August to express condolences after disasters. In an Aug. 11 telegram, he expressed closeness to the victims of a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on Aug. 10, which killed at least 281 people and injured 3,971, according to Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella on Aug. 13.
In an Aug. 17 message, he offered condolences to the victims of a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Indonesia on Aug. 15, which, according to an Aug. 17 BBC news report, killed at least 53 people and left over 5,000 displaced.
Pope Leo’s intervention adds the voice of the Catholic Church to the international expressions of solidarity with Zimbabweans affected by the tragedy.
