Families affected by the Mbuya Nehanda ferry disaster are still waiting for structured counselling, assistance for children and clarity on compensation nearly...
Families affected by the Mbuya Nehanda ferry disaster are still waiting for structured counselling, assistance for children and clarity on compensation nearly two months after the tragedy that claimed at least 97 lives on Lake Kariba.
Kariba Mayor Ralph Maoneyi said the initial emergency response provided some assistance to affected families, but a coordinated long-term recovery programme had not yet been established.
Speaking on CITE’s This Morning on Asakhe programme on Monday, Maoneyi said several commitments made following the disaster, including psychosocial support and financial assistance, were still pending.
“There were a number of promises in terms of money that would be made available and what would be done during the recovery period, including psychosocial support. Unfortunately, a number of those factors are still pending,” Maoneyi said.
The mayor said the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) provided much of the immediate financial and fuel assistance during the initial response to the disaster.
He said the reported US$100 given to each victim was part of that immediate assistance, alongside food and other support provided by private players through a centralized system.
However, Maoneyi said the emergency assistance had not developed into a structured long-term support programme for survivors and bereaved families.
He called for an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the ferry disaster and for continuous, properly structured psychosocial support for those affected.
“We want to see an inquiry into what really took place and to ensure there is continuous, properly structured psychosocial support,” Maoneyi said.
The mayor also said the impact of the tragedy went far beyond Kariba because the victims came from different parts of Zimbabwe.
He said some families who lost relatives in the disaster live outside Kariba, making it important for authorities to develop a broader response that reaches affected families across the country.
“We have not received clarity as to what happened,” Maoneyi said, adding that people had travelled to Kariba from different parts of the country, including those who came for fishing.
The Mbuya Nehanda ferry capsized on Lake Kariba on August 11, 2026, resulting in one of Zimbabwe’s deadliest recent transport disasters.
The tragedy has since raised questions over ferry safety, passenger capacity, emergency preparedness and the availability of safe transport for communities that depend on Lake Kariba.
Maoneyi said the authorities needed to move beyond the immediate emergency response and establish a properly coordinated recovery programme.
“The proper, structured process has not yet begun, but we hope something will be implemented soon, as promised,” he said.
The mayor also linked accountability to compensation for the families who lost relatives and suffered other losses in the disaster.
“Accountability” should therefore include compensation for loss of life and other losses suffered by affected families, according to Maoneyi.
The delay in establishing structured psychosocial support has also raised concerns about the long-term emotional impact of the disaster on survivors and relatives of those who died.
For families who lost their loved ones, the need for support extends beyond the immediate aftermath of the tragedy.
Children and other dependants affected by the deaths may also require assistance as families adjust to the financial and emotional consequences of losing relatives.
The call for compensation and counselling comes as questions over the circumstances surrounding the ferry disaster remain part of the wider public debate.
Authorities have faced pressure to establish what happened before the vessel capsized and whether any safety failures contributed to the loss of life.
For affected families, however, the focus is increasingly on what happens next including financial assistance, psychosocial support, assistance for children and answers about the disaster.
Nearly two months after the tragedy, the demand from Kariba remains for authorities to turn promises made after the disaster into a structured and sustained recovery programme.
