By Admore Mbonda in Kariba
Kariba – A harrowing boat accident on Lake Kariba has reignited urgent concerns over navigation safety, as a survivor recounts the terrifying ordeal that nearly cost him his life.
Aleck Pembere, 24, of Nyamhunga 3, was among the passengers when their vessel capsized amid a sudden and violent storm.
“I saw a blurred vision, and the next thing I knew, the boat had overturned,” he recalled, his voice shaking.
In the chaos, he desperately tried to communicate with his friend, Isaac Parichi, for five agonizing minutes before losing sight of him.
Clutching onto a refrigerator for nearly 45 minutes, Pembere was finally rescued when another boat appeared in the distance.
The ill-fated vessel, loaded with two refrigerators and essential equipment, was en route to Kariba Urban from ARDA Gatche Gatche Fishing Camp when disaster struck.
This tragedy is just one in a series of fatal incidents on Lake Kariba, where lax safety regulations, unpredictable weather, and overloading continue to claim lives.
In 2020, a fishing boat capsized, killing three. The previous year, a tourist vessel sank, leaving several passengers injured. Just last December, a man known as Furgason was pulled into the lake’s depths—his body still missing.
The alarming frequency of these accidents has fueled growing outrage among residents and fishermen, who are demanding immediate action.
“We need patrol boats to enforce safety regulations,” urged a local fisherman. “People’s lives depend on it.”
Many blame the Water and Inland Department’s chronic lack of resources and patrol boats for the ongoing dangers. Without a robust monitoring system, enforcing safety measures remains nearly impossible.
The once-active Lake Navigation Department, which last operated more than two decades ago, is now a fading memory, leaving residents questioning who, if anyone, is safeguarding their waters.
Experts cite a deadly mix of factors behind the accidents—unpredictable storms, overloaded vessels, and poor maintenance.
Authorities have repeatedly warned boat operators of heightened risks during the rainy season, but compliance remains sporadic.
As the community mourns yet another tragedy, the demand for urgent reforms grows louder. Without immediate intervention, residents fear that Lake Kariba will continue to claim innocent lives.
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