Ferry disaster on Lake Kariba

FerryAs of 13 August, 44 of the 153 people on board, including five crew members, had been confirmed dead following a ferry disaster 11 August in the Zimbabwean part of Lake Kariba. The vessel involved was the non-IMO-registered passenger ferry MBUYA NEHANDA, operated by RIDA (Rural Infrastructure Development Agency) under the Zambian government.

MBUYA NEHANDA was a landing craft-type ferry and therefore also had RoRo capacity. It operated in the northern part of Lake Kariba, close to the border with Zambia, where it provided an important means of transport for the rural population. Initial reports indicate that MBUYA NEHANDA was struck by strong winds, causing it to capsize during a five-hour crossing between Kariba and Chalala.

Lake Kariba is the world’s largest artificial lake. It is 223 kilometres long, up to 40 kilometres wide and has an average depth of 29 metres. With many people still missing following the disaster, the death toll is highly likely to be considerably higher than the figure reported on 13 August 2026.