New Kariba ferry starts operations on Tuesday

**Freeman Razemba **

**Senior Reporter **

A NEW certified passenger and cargo ferry will start operating on Lake Kariba on Tuesday, restoring water transport on the busy Kariba-Chalala route.

MV Silverstone, operated by Most High Ferries, was officially launched in September and is expected to fill the gap left by MV Rida Mbuya Nehanda, which capsized on August 11, killing 97 people.

The resumption of services on the route comes as a four-member board of inquiry led by Supreme Court judge Justice Joseph Mafusire prepares to commence investigations into the circumstances surrounding the disaster, including whether the ill-fated vessel was overloaded and whether safety and regulatory procedures were followed.

MV Silverstone can carry 60 passengers and four crew members and has been certified to transport both passengers and cargo.

Most High Ferries director, Mr Hillard Mangove, said the company had put additional safety measures in place ahead of the start of operations.

“I can confirm that we will be starting operations this coming Tuesday and everything is now in place. All cargo will be weighed to ensure the vessel stays within its prescribed 18-tonne limit, which covers passengers and cargo,” he said.

The ferry will carry at least 120 life jackets and floaters, almost double its passenger and crew capacity, while two speedboats will accompany the vessel.

Mr Mangove said the ferry had been under development before the August disaster.

“After the disaster, we realised that there was a dire need for transport to keep businesses running and also keep families connected,” he said. “We had to go through the regulatory processes, and I am glad we are finally here.”

The vessel will operate along the Kariba-Chalala route, with stops at the Kings Camp Fishing Camp and Musambakaruma Fishing Camp.

A trip from Kariba to King’s Camp will cost US$8, while passengers travelling to Musambakaruma will pay US$13 and those travelling to Chalala will pay US$15.

A direct trip from Kariba to Chalala will cost US$15.

It has also been designed to support the local lake economy by transporting goods such as ice blocks for preserving fish and salt used in drying and preserving kapenta.

The development comes after traditional leaders in Kariba held a two-day cleansing ceremony following the disaster, with the rituals led by Chief Mola and Chief Priest Lusinga at sites including Snake Island, Kariba Island and the dam wall.

The Government inquiry into the August disaster is expected to begin soon.

Dr Wiklef Makamache and Ms Patronella Musarurwa are the other members of the board of inquiry, while Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development Engineer Joey Makumbe will serve as secretary.

The board has been given three months to complete its work, with provision for a one-month extension.

Its investigation will cover the seaworthiness, registration, certification and fitness of the ill-fated vessel, as well as the competence and certification of its crew and those involved in its procurement, ownership, operation and navigation.

A key focus will be the vessel’s loading, with the board required to establish how many passengers and how much cargo were on board when it capsized and whether the vessel complied with prescribed capacity limits.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (Rida) vessel may have been overloaded.

The inquiry will also examine whether the authorities responsible for regulating inland water transport properly discharged their duties, including safety certification, weather controls, security requirements, navigation and search-and-rescue procedures.

The board has further been tasked with assessing whether Zimbabwe’s existing institutional, administrative and legislative frameworks governing inland water transport are adequate and recommending reforms where necessary.

It has powers to conduct site visits, summon witnesses, record testimony and gather information before submitting its findings and recommendations to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development.

Source: New Kariba ferry starts operations on Tuesday – herald

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