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A man who survived a ferry disaster that claimed at least 46 lives on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba told AFP how he watched helplessly as people tried to save themselves, with his best friend and seven of his relatives among the dead.

Source: Survivors tell of horror of Zimbabwe ferry sinking as death toll hits 46 – eNCA

HARARE – A man who survived a ferry disaster that claimed at least 46 lives on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba told AFP how he watched helplessly as people tried to save themselves, with his best friend and seven of his relatives among the dead.

The overloaded government ferry — a vital link for villagers and fish traders around the vast lake — overturned in choppy waters on Tuesday in one of the country’s worst passenger boat disasters.

“Thank God that a wave pushed the sinking vessel and we managed to climb on top,” Chance Siyamavhu said at a memorial service in the lakeside town of Kariba close to the border with Zambia.

READ: Ramaphosa sends condolences after 44 die in Zimbabwe ferry tragedy

Perched on the upended boat, he watched as passengers struggled to survive, unable to save them.

“When the boat capsized, most of the people scrambled to get the life jackets but most of them did not even know how to use them,” the 45-year-old told AFP. “Most people could not make it.”

“Our relatives were swept in another direction and they sank because we were not in a position to help them,” he said.

AFP | Jekesai NJIKIZANA

Dozens of mourners gathered in front of 44 coffins at the emotional service, as police announced that the death toll had risen to 46. 

“The names of the victims who perished in the accident will be released in due course,” a police statement said.

Officials say the boat was authorised to carry 90 people but was packed with 114 adults, five crew members and an unspecified number of children.

The civil protection unit said 77 people were rescued, and there were fears that other passengers may be unaccounted for.

Survivors said they had pleaded for the captain to turn back as the boat took on water.

Anymore Chambati, who had been a security official on the vessel, told AFP he had tried to hand out life jackets as the boat began to sink.

“I managed to only give not more than 10,” he said. “The ferry engines were filled with water because of the heavy winds and eventually they failed, save for one.”

• by Mary Taruvinga (AFP)

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Source: Parliamentary Committee Denied Entry At Hwange Colliery, Chairman Threatens To Take Matter To President ⋆ Pindula News

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Mining Development was denied entry into Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL) during a fact-finding mission on Thursday, prompting Committee Chairman Hon. Remigious Matangira to threaten to escalate the matter to President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The Committee arrived at the coal mining giant’s premises only to be turned away on the grounds that the company had not received prior notification of the visit. However, Committee members and an inspector from the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development insist that HCCL Holdings had been fully apprised of the planned visit.

“We Are Not Witch Hunting” – Mapfumo

Hon. Farai Mapfumo expressed disappointment at the treatment the Committee received, emphasising the constitutional importance of their mandate.

“It’s very disappointing what has happened here. What the Ministry and Hwange need to know is that these visits are not for witch-hunting,” Mapfumo stated. “There is a lot of pollution going on here. It needs to be accountable. Electricity: there are other Chinese companies working with Hwange. How is the relationship? We came here using public funds.”

Mapfumo stressed that the Committee’s visit was a legitimate parliamentary duty to scrutinise environmental concerns, operational relationships, and the use of public resources.

“If You Don’t Want Us, You Are Hiding Something” – Matangira

Committee Chairman Matangira minced no words about what he described as a constitutional breach.

“As Parliament, our role is to play oversight. As the community of Mines and Mining Development, we are visiting Hwange Colliery to know what they are doing in light of understanding that the company has been on an upward trajectory,” Matangira explained.

“Hwange Colliery is mining coal to enable power. We have arrived here early, and the management tells the committee that they were not told of our visit and decided to let us go,” he added. “The oversight is not fighting but to see how. We are not happy. The next stage is we will seek the President, HE Mnangagwa. If you don’t want the committee to visit you, you will be hiding something.”

Matangira revealed that proper notification had been given: “A letter confirming our visit is sitting with the Permanent Secretary in the Mines Ministry, yet the Deputy Minister responsible for Energy Minerals is not aware. The letter has also reached Hwange Colliery. We are being denied [the opportunity] to do our work.”

Environmental and Governance Concerns

Matangira further elaborated on the Committee’s concerns, noting that oversight is essential for the nation’s development. He observed that pollution in the Hwange area affects not only the environment but also the health of surrounding communities. He emphasised that coal mining operations must be accountable to the people of Zimbabwe.

The Chairman also highlighted the importance of understanding the relationship between HCCL and Chinese companies operating in the area. He noted that transparency in these partnerships is crucial for ensuring that national resources benefit Zimbabweans.

Matangira pointed to broader governance issues at HCCL, referencing the company’s recent revelation that it is considering selling the town of Hwange for US$300 million to address mounting debt and salary arrears dating back five years. Board member Ntombizodwa Masuku had previously told Parliament that the company is “bedevilled with a lot of challenges in terms of maintaining the town’s infrastructure, water infrastructure and roads”.

The Chairman noted that approximately 20,000 residents in the Hwange Concession area are caught in a governance puzzle where they are administratively under Hwange RDC but politically represented by councillors serving the Hwange Local Board.

Constitutional Basis of Parliamentary Oversight

Matangira emphasised that parliamentary oversight is a constitutional obligation. Section 119 of Zimbabwe’s Constitution provides for oversight over government institutions, and HCCL’s status as a public entity makes it subject to this scrutiny.

The Chairman stressed that with HCCL targeting 300,000 tonnes of coal production per month and investing US$3.5 million in new equipment, understanding operational challenges is vital for the nation’s energy security.

Matangira said the blocking of the Committee is a test of Zimbabwe’s commitment to transparency and accountability in its most vital economic sector. His threatened escalation to President Mnangagwa suggests the matter is far from over.

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Source: Zimbabwe Nurses Threaten Fresh Strike Over Stalled Allowances ⋆ Pindula News

Zimbabwe’s nurses have warned that the government faces fresh industrial unrest in the health sector unless it urgently honours agreements reached three months ago on health-specific allowances and a disputed job evaluation exercise.

In a statement issued on 13 August 2026, the Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) president, Enock Dongo, said morale among frontline staff had collapsed to crisis point.

ZINA, together with the Health Apex Team and wider health worker representatives, said it was concerned by the government’s “continued failure to implement agreements reached in May on the review of health-specific allowances and the unresolved concerns surrounding the health sector job evaluation.”

The union’s frustration centres on a deal struck through the Health Bipartite Negotiating Forum in May. Under that agreement, health-specific allowances would be reviewed, with the possibility of implementing revised rates from June.

Health worker representatives submitted their proposals and the Health Services Commission communicated the matter to the Ministry of Finance. Almost three months later, Dongo said, “there has been no substantive response or implementation.”

The last review of these allowances was conducted in 2022. Since then, ZINA argues, rising living costs and economic pressures have “significantly eroded the purchasing power of health workers.”

The allowances in question cover night duty, on-call, standby, nurse managers, post-basic qualifications, mental health, special health duties and uniforms – payments the association says are “no longer adequate compensation for the demanding and often unsocial conditions under which health workers operate.”

Dongo warned that continued delays are “worsening an already serious morale crisis among nurses, doctors, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and other health professionals, with potential consequences for the quality and sustainability of healthcare delivery.”

ZINA is also challenging the recently concluded health sector job evaluation conducted by the Health Services Commission. Health worker representatives have rejected its outcome, arguing that workers were inadequately consulted and that the methodology “failed to fully recognise the unique demands of healthcare, including clinical responsibility, professional accountability, emergency response, unsociable working hours, specialist qualifications and workload.”

The May agreement provided for a 4-4 appeals committee, four worker representatives and four government representatives, to consider concerns arising from the evaluation. ZINA said it is opposed to reports that the process is now being handled through the Public Service Commission instead.

“The agreed mechanism cannot be unilaterally changed,” the statement said.

The demands set out by Dongo are fourfold: that government urgently review and implement the health-specific allowances, provide a clear response to proposals already submitted, constitute the agreed 4-4 appeals committee, and ensure that the appeals process is “transparent, inclusive and appropriate to the health sector.”

“Nurses, doctors and other health professionals continue to work nights, weekends, public holidays, respond to emergencies and remain on standby while carrying their own family and financial responsibilities,” ZINA said. “They deserve fair treatment and compensation for the essential services they provide.”

While reaffirming its commitment to dialogue and constructive engagement, ZINA warned that “dialogue must produce results, promises must be honoured and agreements must be respected.”

Should the outstanding issues remain unresolved, health workers may consider further collective action, including withdrawal of services.

“ZINA therefore urges Government to act now in the interests of health workers and, most importantly, the people of Zimbabwe,” Dongo said.

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Source: ZLHR calls for transparent probe into Kariba ferry disaster –Newsday Zimbabwe

HARARE, Aug. 14 (NewsDay Live) — The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights has called for an independent and transparent investigation into the Kariba ferry disaster that has claimed at least 46 lives, saying the tragedy raises serious questions about public transport safety and regulatory oversight.

In a statement Friday, ZLHR extended its condolences to the families, relatives and friends of those who died in the tragedy and called for accountability over the disaster.

At least 46 people had died and 77 survivors had been rescued by Aug. 12, while the search and recovery operation remained underway. The Mbuya Nehanda ferry, owned by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency, was travelling from Kariba toward Chalala when it capsized on Lake Kariba.

ZLHR said the loss of lives raised serious questions about safety standards, regulatory compliance, emergency preparedness and the adequacy of oversight mechanisms governing public transport on Lake Kariba.

“Section 48 of the Constitution guarantees everyone the right to life,” the organisation said, adding that authorities had a duty to protect and promote that right.

ZLHR said the government’s declaration of the disaster as a national disaster acknowledged shortcomings in the country’s maritime safety capabilities.

It called for an impartial, independent and evidence-based investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the sinking and determine whether the vessel was adequately inspected and operated.

The investigation should also establish whether the operator, regulators, public officials or other responsible institutions failed in their duties and, where applicable, identify any criminal, civil or regulatory liabilities, ZLHR said.

The organisation urged authorities to make the findings of the probe public and ensure that any identified liabilities were addressed in accordance with the law.

“The tragedy must not be reduced to a statistic or allowed to fade from public attention without meaningful action,” ZLHR said.

It also called for strengthened maritime safety, emergency preparedness and enforcement measures to prevent a similar disaster from occurring again.

The organisation said families of the victims should receive assistance and support, including appropriate compensation and recovery of victims’ remains where necessary.

The call comes as authorities continue the search and recovery operation on Lake Kariba following one of the country’s deadliest recent water transport disasters.

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Source: 1 500 housing stands for youth in Bulawayo -Newsday Zimbabwe

OVER 1 500 residential stands are being developed in Bulawayo under the Munhumutapa national youth housing scheme.

The scheme was launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in 2024 to expand access to affordable housing for young people.

The stands are being serviced at Valindre through a public-private partnership between government and Enock Construction and Earth Moving Equipment.

Project manager, Engineer Thabani Ndlovu said the first phase, comprising 400 stands, was nearing completion, while work was progressing on the remaining phases.

“As you can see, phase one is almost complete, while work is now progressing on phases two and three,” he said.

“We have constructed roads and installed sewer systems, while also going the extra mile to electrify the area. The streetlights are already operational.”

The project is expected to provide young people with access to serviced residential stands while contributing to improved living conditions and their socio-economic well-being.

Nkulumane Member of Parliament, Freedom Murechu welcomed the project, saying it was responding to the housing needs of young people.

“Our parents used to acquire stands at affordable prices and pay for them in instalments, and today we are happy that the government is giving young people the same opportunity,” he said.

Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister, Judith Ncube said access to decent and affordable housing was critical to improving the welfare and dignity of young people.

“Our expectation is for young people to have access to decent and affordable housing. Providing decent housing promotes their dignity, and we want to thank the President for prioritising the welfare of young people,” she said.

The Valindre development comprises both medium- and high-density residential stands, with the project being implemented in three phases.

The first phase comprises 400 stands, while phase two will deliver 500 stands and phase three a further 700 stands, bringing the total to more than 1 500 residential stands.

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