Pope Leo XIV Sends Condolences as Lake Kariba Ferry Death Toll Climbs to 92

Pope Leo XIV has sent his condolences to the families of victims of the Lake Kariba ferry disaster, now confirmed as Zimbabwe’s deadliest public transport accident, with the death toll standing at 92.

In a telegram published on 18 August and signed on the pontiff’s behalf by Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Pope Leo said he was “deeply saddened” to learn of the tragedy. He entrusted the souls of the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God and extended his condolences to the bereaved. The pontiff also offered prayers for civil authorities and emergency personnel involved in the continuing rescue and recovery operation, invoking, in the Cardinal’s words, “divine blessings of consolation, healing and strength” upon all those affected.

The disaster occurred on 11 August, when a Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) vessel, the Mbuya Nehanda, capsized while crossing from Kariba Town towards the Chalala fishing camp in Zimbabwe’s north-west. The ferry, authorised to carry around 90 passengers, is believed to have been carrying substantially more when it was struck by strong waves, though passenger estimates vary between reports. Survivors have said they urged the captain to turn back once the weather worsened but were overruled.

Zimbabwe’s national police updated the death toll to 92 on 17 August, after recovering eight further bodies from the lake, and confirmed that additional boats and personnel had been deployed to continue the search. The vessel had reportedly been in service for 41 years, and the tragedy has renewed scrutiny of ageing transport infrastructure serving the lake’s rural and fishing communities, where road links remain poor and public transport options limited.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the accident a national disaster, pledging medical and psychological support for affected families and conceding that the disaster had exposed serious weaknesses in the country’s maritime safety arrangements. A memorial service for the victims was held on 13 August at Nyamhunga Stadium in Kariba, attended by mourners and government officials.

The Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Diocese of Chinhoyi, under Bishop Patrick Ngwenya, have both issued statements of sorrow and pledged pastoral support to affected families, with the diocese coordinating assistance in the area.

Lake Kariba, the world’s largest artificial reservoir by volume, straddles the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia and remains a vital transport link for communities on both shores. Investigations into the exact circumstances of the capsizing are continuing.

Pope Leo’s message to Zimbabwe was the third condolence telegram he has issued this month, following similar messages after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia and a 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Indonesia.