‘Heads Must Roll’: Fadzayi Mahere Blasts Government Over Lake Kariba Ferry Disaster

Fadzayi Mahere Blasts Government Over Lake Kariba Ferry Disaster, Demands Accountability

Former Citizens Coalition for Change spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere has launched a scathing attack on the government over the Lake Kariba ferry disaster.

Fadzayi Mahere said the tragedy exposed the struggles faced by ordinary people who depend on public transport to support their families.

Her comments came as the death toll from the disaster reached 95.

Also Read: Lake Kariba Ferry Disaster Death Toll Hits 95 As Police Name More Victims

‘They Hate Poor People’- Fadzayi Mahere

Writing on X, Mahere said many of those aboard the ferry were travelling to rural Kariba to buy goods for resale.

She said a significant number of the passengers were women supporting their families through small businesses.

“One of the things that pains me most about the Kariba Ferry disaster is that most of the people on the boat were travelling to rural Kariba, carrying goods for resale in their small businesses.

A great number of them were women. Who doesn’t know that all too familiar story of a mother carrying a baby on her back with another in hand going off to buy and sell goods to feed her family?,” she wrote.

Fadzayi Mahere said reports that one victim was recovered with a baby strapped to her back illustrated the human cost of the tragedy.

She argued that the affected community was not looking for government assistance, but simply needed reliable public transport.

“This is a community that never asked for handouts or government grants. All they needed was a functional public transport system so that they could work and feed their families yet the Govt failed them.

They hate poor people. We need new leaders,” she wrote.

Calls for Prosecution Over Ferry

Mahere also questioned how the ferry was allowed to operate, describing it as an old and unsafe vessel.

“Giving this rickety old can a ‘fitness certificate’ is negligence of the highest order,” she said.

She held those responsible for the vessel’s certification accountable for the deaths.

“They’re responsible for causing the death of at least 95 people. They must be charged with culpable homicide. Heads must roll and those responsible must be jailed for this,” Mahere wrote.

She again accused authorities of disregarding the interests of poor Zimbabweans.

Mahere Questions Death Toll Figures

The opposition politician also raised concerns about the government’s handling of information released after the disaster.

She questioned how officials initially arrived at figures that were significantly lower than the eventual death toll.

“In what way was it correct? How did their figures fail to take into account over 50 bodies? What was the basis of their count?” she asked.

Mahere also questioned why the information was released without being independently verified. She further questioned the government’s assessment of the emergency response.

“How could they have gotten it so wrong? Why were the figures so grossly understated?.As the official mouthpiece of Govt, why did he not verify the information before sharing it instead of misleading the public?” she asked.