RIDA official arrested over Mbuya Nehanda boat accident

Kariba District clerk and acting Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) district head Ignitious Chiome was on Wednesday, 26 August, remanded in custody following his arrest in connection with the capsizing of the Mbuya Nehanda ferry on Lake Kariba, which claimed 97 lives.

Chiome appeared before the Kariba Magistrates’ Court facing a charge of culpable homicide arising from the 11 August accident.

He was remanded in custody to Thursday, when the court is expected to rule on his bail application.

The State alleges that administrative failures, overloading of the vessel and breaches of operational safety procedures contributed to the accident.

Preliminary findings presented to Cabinet indicate that the vessel was carrying more than 170 passengers and heavy cargo when it departed Andora Harbour for Chalala fishing camps. It was authorised to carry only 90 passengers.

Investigators are also probing allegations that the vessel was allowed to sail despite severe weather warnings issued by the Meteorological Services Department (MSD) over strong south-westerly winds commonly known as the Binga Wave.

Survivors have told investigators that they pleaded with the crew to turn back or seek shelter at nearby islands as weather conditions worsened, but their requests were allegedly ignored.

A multi-agency search-and-recovery operation involving sub-aqua units and local divers rescued 77 people and recovered 97 bodies.

The recovery operation has since been concluded, with teams retrieving bodies from depths of up to 80 metres.

National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi said 96 of the 97 victims have so far been identified, with one remaining unidentified.

More: The Herald