By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
When Everton Mlalazi performed Hakuna Usiku — “There Will Be No Night There” — he was singing about a heavenly promise. A day when sorrow ends. When tears are wiped away. When death loses its sting.
He never imagined those words would one day carry the weight of a national tragedy.
But on August 11, 2026, as news broke of the Lake Kariba ferry disaster — now Zimbabwe’s deadliest transport accident on record — those very lyrics took on a new and heartbreaking meaning.
The Mbuya Nehanda ferry went down in the waters of Lake Kariba, claiming at least 94 lives, with the death toll still climbing. Families are shattered. Communities are grieving. A nation is in mourning.
And in the midst of it all, one gospel musician chose to speak not with grand speeches, but with a song.
“To every family that has lost a loved one, and to our nation as we grieve together, may God hold you close and give you strength in this hour of unimaginable sorrow,” Mlalazi wrote on his social media pages.
His words were tender. His message, personal.
“Today, the words of Hakuna Usiku carry a deeper meaning and a blessed hope: a day is coming when ‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes… there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying!’ — Revelation 21:4.”
For those who have followed Mlalazi’s journey, this gesture is no surprise. The award-winning gospel artist has long used his music as a balm for wounded souls. But this time, it felt different. This time, the nation was crying together.
The song, which features on his chart-topping album Celestial Chorus Volume 3, has become an anthem of comfort in recent days. Its lyrics — a reminder that pain is temporary and hope is eternal — have resonated with a country searching for solace.
“Until that glorious morning, we mourn with those who mourn,” Mlalazi continued. “We pray for the bereaved. We remember every life lost.”
His message was simple but profound: “Hakuna Usiku – there will be no night there.”
The tragedy has shaken Zimbabwe to its core. More than 180 people were believed to be aboard the ill-fated vessel — a number far higher than initially reported. The government has since launched a formal investigation, but for the families of the victims, answers cannot come soon enough.
In the meantime, there is grief. There is confusion. There is anger. And there is music.
Mlalazi‘s dedication of Hakuna Usiku is not just a tribute — it is an embrace. A reminder that even in the darkest hour, there is a hand reaching out. A voice singing. A promise that the night will not last forever.
“May their souls rest in peace, and may God comfort Zimbabwe,” he said.
As the nation mourns, one song plays softly in the background — a hymn of hope from a man who believes that even in tragedy, there is a melody waiting to be heard.
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