Zimbabwe’s Deadliest Ferry Disaster: 94 Lives Lost

The government-owned Mbuya Nehanda ferry capsized on Lake Kariba with 180 passengers—double its 90-person capacity.

Weihong Nguyen 20 Aug 2026 ·18:22 · hace 2 hours

4 min read ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe’s Deadliest Ferry — The Mbuya Nehanda ferry capsized on Lake Kariba with 180 passengers on board, killing 94.

LO ESENCIAL

94 people have died in Zimbabwe’s worst-ever transport disaster after a ferry capsized on Lake Kariba.
The Mbuya Nehanda, a government-owned vessel, was carrying 180 passengers—twice its rated capacity—when it sank.
Search operations continue as 77 survivors have been rescued, with authorities launching a full investigation.
High winds were forecast at the time of departure, but the crew proceeded despite rough surface conditions.

At least 94 people have died after the Nbuya Nehanda ferry capsized on Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe, in the country’s deadliest transport disaster. The government-owned vessel, carrying about 180 passengers, twice its legal capacity, sank amid rough conditions, leaving survivors scrambling for safety as rescue efforts continue. The Nbuya Nehanda departed the town of Kariba on August 11, bound for the village of Chalala, approximately 35 miles away. Pre-casualty images show the ferry’s deck enclosed by a cloth canopy, a design factor that may have complicated evacuation efforts. The vessel was…

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