24 More Bodies Recovered From Lake Kariba Ferry Disaster
Twenty-four more bodies have been recovered from Lake Kariba after being found trapped beneath the Mbuya Nehanda ferry, which capsized on Tuesday.
The latest recovery brings the confirmed number of bodies retrieved from the disaster to 37, following the 13 deaths previously announced by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
The bodies were recovered on Wednesday morning, 12 August 2026, during an ongoing operation involving Zimbabwe Defence Forces and ZRP sub-aqua teams.
Lake Kariba Ferry Death Toll Rises To 37
The Joint Operations Command confirmed the latest development as search teams continued working around the overturned vessel.
The Chronicle reported:
“TWENTY-FOUR more bodies have been recovered from Lake Kariba after they were found trapped beneath the ferry that capsized on Tuesday.”
Earlier, police said 67 survivors had been rescued and taken to Mahombe-kombe Primary School Command Centre for medical attention and further management.
Authorities have, however, not yet established the exact number of passengers who were aboard the ferry.
Questions Over Number Of Passengers On Mbuya Nehanda
Police previously said the vessel had a confirmed capacity of 90 passengers, excluding five crew members.
However, initial information given to the lake captain indicated that 120 people were travelling from Kariba to Chalala. That figure reportedly included 108 adults and 12 children.
Meanwhile, RIDA security officer Anymore Chambati, one of the five crew members, gave a different account, claiming 153 people, including infants, were aboard when the ferry capsized.
Search Operation Continues
The recovery operation remains underway as authorities search the area and work to establish the full scale of the tragedy.
With conflicting figures about the number of people aboard, the final death toll remains unclear.
Authorities are expected to provide further updates as rescue, recovery and verification efforts continue.
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