By Tapiwa Chawagarira
KARIBA — The death toll from the Kariba RIDA boat disaster has risen to 84 following the recovery of four more bodies from Lake Kariba on Sunday afternoon, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed.
The latest development brings the number of confirmed fatalities up from 80 reported earlier in the day, as search and recovery operations continue in an effort to locate victims still reported missing.
According to an update from the ZRP, four bodies were recovered from the lake on Sunday afternoon, pushing the death toll to 84.
Police said search efforts remained underway to recover other victims who have been identified as missing.
The tragedy occurred on 11 August 2026 when the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) vessel Mbuya Nehanda capsized on Lake Kariba while travelling from Kariba towards Chalala and surrounding rural and fishing communities.
Initial official reports indicated that the vessel was carrying 114 adult passengers and five crew members, while an unspecified number of children were also on board. The boat’s stated capacity was 90 passengers.
The disaster triggered a major search and rescue operation involving police, divers and other emergency responders, with teams continuing to scour the lake for survivors and victims.
The rising death toll has left families in communities around Lake Kariba facing the painful task of identifying and laying their loved ones to rest, while authorities continue with the identification of recovered bodies.
The incident has also raised renewed concerns over passenger safety on Lake Kariba, particularly for communities that depend on water transport to access essential services and travel between remote areas and Kariba town.
