Zimbabwe: When Death Came Calling - Twin Brother Narrates His Sibling's Final Moments Aboard the Ill-Fated Kariba Boat

One Mereki, a supervisor for the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency, realized the boat was sinking and urgently called his twin brother. The twin, at his workplace in Harare, tried to remain calm and advised his brother to find a safer place on the boat. However, One had already moved to the kitchen, hoping for the best. As the situation worsened, reports of the sinking boat spread across social media.

The tragedy unfolded on Lake Kariba when the agency-owned Mbuya Nehanda capsized on August 11, leaving 84 dead and 77 rescued. The government declared the disaster a national tragedy, promising support to survivors and affected families. One had traveled from Kariba to Siakobvu to attend to work-related matters and was returning with over 100 passengers, including children, when the disaster struck.

The Mbuya Nehanda had been a lifeline for communities around the lake, but on this day, it was overloaded with passengers and carrying various cargo, far exceeding its intended capacity. Survivors described an increasingly chaotic situation as waves grew larger and both engines failed, resulting in the boat sinking. The family of One, who was among the bodies recovered, struggled to come to terms with the loss, especially knowing his twin had been aware of impending death.