Zimbabwe: Mnangagwa Orders Replacement Ferry for Ill-Fated Mbuya Nehanda Boat, Rehabilitation of Abandoned Road
[New Zimbabwe] GOVERNMENT has pledged to replace the passenger ferry involved in Tuesday's Lake Kariba disaster and urgently rehabilitate the impassable road linking Kariba, Siakobvu and Chalala, but the commitments have come only after dozens of people lost their lives.
Zimbabwe's government has pledged to replace the ferry that capsized in Tuesday's Lake Kariba disaster and urgently repair the impassable road linking Kariba, Siakobvu, and Chalala. President Emmerson Mnangagwa directed authorities to find a replacement passenger ferry and fix the Binga road, which communities rely on for access to essential services.
Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe announced the commitments at a memorial service for the 80+ victims at Nyamhunga Stadium. Mnangagwa assured the public not to worry about how they will travel now that the ferry is gone, stating he will find a replacement vessel for businesses and livelihoods. Garwe also said Transport Minister Felix Mhona will work to fix the road urgently.
The pledges are likely to be welcomed by affected communities, but questions have been raised over why action was not taken earlier due to long-standing transport challenges on the lake and the poor state of the road. The rehabilitation of the Karoi-Binga road has been on the cards for years, with funding from government and private sector partnerships, but delays and abandonment have hindered progress.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
