Pope Leo XIV has expressed his sorrow for the victims of the ferry sinking on Lake Kariba, in Zimbabwe, which has left at least 92 dead. In a telegram released this Tuesday, August 18, by the Holy See and signed by the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Pontiff entrusts the deceased to the mercy of God and conveys his condolences to their families.
The accident occurred on August 11, when the vessel Mbuya Nehanda capsized while sailing on Lake Kariba, located on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Zimbabwean police raised the death toll to 92 on Monday after recovering eight more bodies, while search operations continue.
Leo XIV entrusts the deceased to the mercy of God
This is the full telegram, translated into English, sent on behalf of Leo XIV:
His Holiness Pope Leo XIV has received with deep sadness the news of the fatal ferry accident on Lake Kariba. Entrusting the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God, he sends his heartfelt condolences to those who mourn their loss.
His Holiness also offers his prayers for the civil authorities and emergency services personnel in their ongoing response to this tragedy. Upon all those affected he invokes the divine blessings of consolation, healing, and strength.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
Secretary of State.
An overloaded ferry amid heavy waves
The vessel was traveling between the town of Kariba and Chalala, a rural and fishing community area in the northwest of the country. The ferry capsized after encountering heavy waves during the crossing.
Figures on the exact number of passengers have varied during rescue operations. Authorities had set a maximum capacity of 90 passengers for the vessel, while one surviving crew member stated he had counted 153 people on board, including crew members and children.
Police confirmed on August 17 that the death toll had risen to 92. Operations to locate those still missing continue on the lake.
Among the fatalities are at least 18 children. Authorities had previously reported the rescue of 77 people, although in the first days after the accident different figures were circulated regarding survivors and passengers because it was not known precisely how many people were traveling on the ferry.
Survivors reported they asked to return
Several survivors stated that passengers had asked the crew to turn back due to the lake conditions. According to their accounts, the vessel began taking on water and part of the cargo fell while moving through the waves.
Anyway Chambati, one of the crew members who survived the accident and was in charge of tickets, told public broadcaster ZBC that some passengers managed to stay on the hull after the ferry capsized. Chambati also said he had counted 153 people on board before the sinking.
Authorities have deployed specialized teams for search and recovery tasks. According to police, more than 40 officers from the underwater unit are participating in the operation, along with several boats and other emergency resources.
Zimbabwe declared the sinking a national disaster
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the accident a national disaster, allowing additional resources to be mobilized for search, rescue, and assistance to those affected. The president also noted that the sinking had highlighted deficiencies in the country’s maritime safety systems.
Lake Kariba extends along the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia and is an important transportation route for local populations, especially for rural communities where land communications are limited. Created after the construction of a dam on the Zambezi River in the late 1950s, it is considered the largest artificial lake in the world by volume.