Passenger vanishes after jumping from MV Silverstone ferry into Lake Kariba

An unidentified man is feared dead after reportedly jumping from the Silverstone Boat into Lake Kariba near Musamba Fishing Camp in Nyaminyami Ward 3 on Tuesday afternoon in a suspected suicide.

According to Kariba-based journalist Maxton Kanhema, the incident occurred while the vessel was travelling from Kariba to Chalala.

The boat had stopped at Musamba Fishing Camp to drop off passengers and cargo when fellow travellers reportedly noticed a man entering the water and raised the alarm.

Silverstone director Hilary, who was on board at the time, confirmed the incident and said crew members were alerted by passengers.

He said the crew immediately launched a search using speedboats but failed to locate the missing man.

Hilary added that the passenger had not been drinking alcohol while on board before the incident.

Police from the Sub-Aqua Unit were later deployed to assist with the search. Divers were dispatched to the area, but the man had not been found by the time of publication.

Authorities are withholding the passenger’s identity until his next of kin have been formally informed.

The incident comes just weeks after passenger boat services resumed on Lake Kariba following a nearly two-month suspension.

Operations were suspended between 11 August and 5 October 2026 after the Mbuya Nehanda KF 551, operated by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), capsized near Long Island on 11 August. The tragedy claimed at least 97 lives, while 77 people survived.

Silverstone Boat resumed operations during the first week of October after a traditional cleansing ceremony of Lake Kariba conducted by Chief Mola.