The Lake Kariba ferry disaster has exposed decades of inadequate infrastructure and marginalisation of communities in the Zambezi Valley, Binga South MP Fanuel Cumanzala has told Parliament.
Cumanzala raised the issue as a matter of national interest on Tuesday, as recovery operations continued following the ferry disaster that has killed 92 people, according to figures from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
He said reports that the vessel was carrying more passengers than its authorised capacity, together with claims that passengers warned the captain after water began entering the vessel, needed to be investigated.
“As of today, the death toll has risen to 92 people, with recovery operations continuing. Reports also indicate that the vessel was carrying as many as 169 passengers despite an authorised capacity of approximately 90 passengers,” Cumanzala said.
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The death toll has since risen to 94.
“Survivors further reported that passengers pleaded with the captain to make a U-turn after the passengers noticed that water was flowing into the vessel. These allegations, Hon Speaker, must be urgently investigated.”
Cumanzala said the disaster should not be treated solely as a ferry accident, arguing that the region’s poor transport infrastructure had left communities heavily dependent on water transport.
“This is not simply a ferry accident; it is a national tragedy rooted in decades of neglect and inadequate infrastructure and marginalisation of the Zambezi Valley communities,” he said.
He said communities and traditional leaders had repeatedly raised concerns about transport infrastructure in the region.
“For decades, the Zambezi Valley communities have been raising concerns about unsafe and inadequate transport infrastructure in the region,” he said.
“The traditional leaders and Members of Parliament in this august House from the particular region, have repeatedly spoken about these issues, the pleas have been ignored and warnings of the passengers in the vessel were not acted upon.”
Cumanzala said poor roads had contributed to the reliance on water transport, particularly in parts of the Zambezi Valley where communities remain poorly connected.
“There is no doubt poor road infrastructure is at the heart of this tragedy. We have previously raised the issue of poor transport infrastructure in this House,” he said.
“The Kariba District profile confirms that Kariba rural is among the least developed districts in Zimbabwe, with poor roads linking Siakobvu, Mola and Chalala and long distances that force reliance on water transport.”
He said water transport itself was not the problem, but communities should have safer alternatives and vessels should be subject to strict safety regulations.
“Water transport is not the problem but the problem is its use as the only viable option. No community in independent Zimbabwe should be forced into dangerous transport,” he said.
“We are not opposed to water transport but where it is the only option, then Government must ensure strict safety regulations and the enforcement of rules and procedures.”
Cumanzala questioned how a vessel authorised to carry about 90 passengers could have been carrying 169 people.
“A vessel authorised to carry 90 passengers must not carry more than 169 passengers. Our people are citizens of this country. They are not cargo,” he said.
He also linked the disaster to the history of the Tonga people, who were displaced by the construction of the Kariba Dam in the 1950s.
“The historical context of this tragedy cannot be ignored. Lake Kariba displaced about 57 000 Tongas in the 1950s. This was done by the colonial Government then. These people lost their land, their livelihoods and their heritage. Today, their descendants still depend on the same lake for survival,” he said.
“Nearly 70 years later, they remain without infrastructure that should have followed them, at least at Independence.”
Cumanzala said independence should have brought greater integration of Zambezi Valley communities into the country’s transport and infrastructure network.
“Since 1980, expectations from these communities have been very clear. They needed roads, bridges and services to connect all communities. Yet the Zambezi Valley communities remain isolated to date,” he said.
He called for a dedicated transport corridor linking communities in the region.
“We need a Zambezi Valley transport corridor. The Government must move beyond piecemeal projects and develop a Zambezi Valley transport corridor linking Mbire, Kariba, Siakobvu, Binga and beyond,” he said.
“They should unlock agriculture, tourism, trade and services. What is needed is actualisation and implementation, not promises anymore.”
Cumanzala also called for an investigation into the ferry disaster, including the vessel’s passenger capacity, certification, maintenance and inspection records.
“The Government must urgently clarify the number of people on board, vessel capacity and certification, maintenance and inspection records and whether it was really ready to be on the water on that particular day,” he said.
He called for an independent investigation involving Parliament and urged authorities to suspend vessels considered unsafe.
“The Government should launch an independent investigation into this tragedy and if possible, should involve Parliament. The Government should suspend unsafe DDF vessels to avoid more disasters and if possible, procure safe modern ferries,” he said.
He also called for the rehabilitation of key roads in the Zambezi Valley to reduce pressure on water transport.
“In addition, the Government should rehabilitate key Zambezi Valley roads which will help to decongest water transport. To this extent, there is a need to develop an integrated transportation plan and establish a permanent Lake Kariba Emergency Response System,” he said.
Cumanzala said the Government should also recognise the cultural and spiritual significance of Lake Kariba to the Tonga people.
“I think it is also high time Government recognises that the Tonga people are very religious and there are certain rituals which they used to conduct which are not being conducted at the lake or close to the lake to date and whether this can be allowed to continue because people are now scattered,” he said.
“They need facilitation to come together and do those rituals.”
He said the disaster should prompt the Government to address the wider infrastructure and development needs of the Zambezi Valley.
“The people of the Zambezi Valley want justice, safety, inclusion, roads, safe transport and equal development. Let this be the last tragedy born out of neglect,” Cumanzala said.
“We urge Parliament to treat this disaster as a national wake-up call on infrastructure failure and marginalisation. I submit this matter as of urgent national interest.”
Recovery operations are continuing on Lake Kariba following the disaster. The ZRP has put the confirmed death toll at 92.
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