By Judith Matanire
FIFTEEN people have been confirmed dead and at least 27 remain unaccounted for following a boat accident on Lake Kariba on Tuesday afternoon.
The District Development Fund (DDF) vessel, Mbuya Nehanda, capsized while travelling from Kariba towards Chalala fishing camps.
A report from Mashonaland West Provincial Civil Protection Unit chairperson Cecilia Chitiyo said the vessel was carrying 114 ticketed adults, five crew members and an unspecified number of children when it overturned.
The boat has a stated carrying capacity of 90 passengers.
Seventy-seven people have so far been rescued by Matusadonha rescue teams and other responders, with survivors taken to Long Island pending evacuation to the mainland.
CPU teams have mobilised additional boats to bring the survivors back to land.
Fifteen bodies have been recovered, with funeral service providers Nyaradzo and Doves engaged to assist with the collection and processing of the remains.
Authorities have also deployed a sub-aqua unit to intensify search and rescue efforts as fears grow that the death toll could increase.
Chitiyo recommended that the incident be declared a state of disaster.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Republic Police national spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi has urged the public and media to refrain from circulating unverified figures as authorities continue managing the scene.
Nyathi said the official number of people who were on board, survivors, injured passengers and fatalities would be released once the scene management process is completed.
The police urged the public and media to allow authorities to manage the situation professionally and avoid spreading figures that have not been verified.
The circumstances surrounding the capsizing, including reports that the vessel may have been carrying more passengers than its designated capacity, are expected to form part of investigations into the tragedy.
Search and rescue operations are continuing on Lake Kariba today, with authorities expected to provide further updates as efforts to locate those still missing intensify.
