Pachena
- 45 of the 97 dead were children, and four of the youngest were a year old or younger
- 10 of the initially 67 rescued persons were children. 77 people were rescued in total
- Nine of the victims were aged two or younger
- 40 of the victims were aged 10 or younger
- Victims and survivors were so terrified that they vomited in the face of disaster
- Most of the children were not on the passenger manifest because they were not issued tickets
- RIDA probe questioned a girl of seven who “appeared afraid of the Committee”
By Brenna Matendere
CHILDREN bore the brunt of the Mbuya Nehanda ferry disaster which capsized on Lake Kariba on 11 August, killing 97 people, amid revelations that several minors endured a traumatic and terrifying vomiting ordeal as it became apparent that the vessel was going down.
Ultimately, 45 children perished, a figure which is close to half of the deceased persons, an internal report shows.
Only 10 children were on the initial list of 67 rescued persons compiled by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare. The youngest survivor was one year old. In total, 77 people were rescued.
The ministry’s list shows that the youngest victim was five-month-old Blessing Simamba of Kasiya Village under Chief Mola in Kariba. Three other children who were a year old or younger, perished in the tragedy.
Nine of the victims were aged two or younger while 40 of those killed in the tragedy were aged 10 or younger. In total 45 children died in the accident.
Pachena’s investigation, The Warnings Zimbabwe Ignored: How the Mbuya Nehanda Sank, Killing 97, showed that the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) ignored repeated warnings about the ferry’s safety. A follow-up story titled, Heads Roll at RIDA, revealed that an internal probe led to the dismissal of Kariba District Accountant Artwell Madapandu while two other junior staffers were undergoing hearings, ahead of possible dismissal.
The RIDA investigation committee is chaired by Learnson Tagara, Chief Director of Human Resources in the Ministry of Local Government.
The other members were Dr Wadzanayi Kachere, Chief Director of Presidential Scholarships in the Office of the President and Cabinet and Patricia Mafusire, Director of Finance in the Ministry of Youth. RIDA’s Director of Human Resources, Dr Norest Chikokoko, served as secretary and compiled the minutes.
While the probe team did not focus on minors, its findings reveal the extent of trauma that children, both living and dead, went through during the tragedy.
The team interviewed several survivors among them Christopher Jeke (45), who boarded with four children, two of whom were aged eight, one seven and the other 14. He was on the upper deck of the ferry.
He said the ferry departed the harbour at approximately 9am but by 12pm the vessel had not reached Kings Camp, which made him realise something was wrong.
“He stated that his children began vomiting due to the waves, as the boat was no longer stable and appeared to be leaning toward one side,” he said.
Jeke said one engine stalled, but the captain did not notice the emergency situation and continued his voyage while ignoring passenger pleas to dock at the nearest island.
“Passengers began putting on life jackets, but he said it was already too late because the ferry had started sinking. He stated that the remaining engine eventually stopped and the boat capsized,” Jeke told the probe team.
“He reported that he managed to secure life jackets for himself and two of the children, with the younger child in his arms. He stated that he was able to save only three children and that he lost his brother’s daughter.”
“She appeared afraid”
Less than three weeks after the disaster, the probe questioned survivors, including children.
A 13-year-old boy whose aunt drowned described passengers scrambling for life jackets as the ferry tilted.
He said the boat appeared to struggle against the waves, although it continued moving forward. He revealed water began to seep into the boat, and luggage was seen being swept away as the boat approached Long Island.
“The situation worsened when one of the boat’s engines ceased functioning, causing the vessel to tilt precariously to one side. The Boat Captain instructed passengers to move to the higher side of the boat, resulting in chaos and panic onboard,” he said.
“Amid the commotion, passengers scrambled for life jackets.”
The boy said he managed to secure a life jacket, but his aunt, Marvelous Kamwaya, failed to get one.
She died in the accident.
Her body has not been found.
Upon reviewing the passenger manifest, the committee discovered that the boy, just like many other children, was not on the list.
A seven-year-old girl was also questioned.
“She could not say much as she appeared afraid of the committee,” the minutes record.
She told the committee she vomited during the deal.
Pachena is not naming either child despite the probe team naming in its minutes.
The minutes say nothing about safeguarding. They do not record a parent or guardian in the room, any consent, or a counsellor or child-protection officer being present. The girl’s father was interviewed just before her, but the minutes do not say whether he stayed.
Section 81(2) of the Zimbabwe’s Constitution says a child’s best interests are “paramount in every matter concerning the child”.
“Where children are survivors of a traumatic event, the investigative process should not become another source of harm,” said child-rights advocate Sandra Nokuthula Gama, executive director of The Girls Table.
She questioned whether the children took part voluntarily, whether consent was sought and whether their wellbeing was protected.
Not counted, not ticketed
Our first investigation found that children below ticketing age were left out of passenger estimates and that ticket spaces for children’s details were routinely left blank.
RIDA’s probe confirmed the development. District Coordinator Ignatius Chiome said infants “do not pay but are still counted as passengers”. Survivor Beaular Jimu told RIDA’s fact finding team that a two-year-old travelling with her was not on her receipt because she was too young to pay.
Nothing on board for them
Survivors said life jackets were locked in compartments or buried under 50 bags of cement.
Nothing in the record shows the ferry carried jackets small enough for young children.
Kariba MP Shine Gwangwaba, who lost 16 relatives, said many mothers carried babies on their backs.
“Children were just sinking,” he said. “Most children could not swim so they just died in the water. Others were trapped inside the boat because it had a fence and tent to protect the enclosure.”
Left out of the brief
RIDA Director General Christopher Shumba gave the investigators terms of reference covering overloading, the manifest, staff conduct, collusion and fitness to sail. Children were not specifically mentioned.
The probe team’s recommendations say nothing about counting children, child-sized life jackets or support for bereaved families.
The same problem extends to the national commission of inquiry recently appointed by Transport Minister Felix Mhona.
Chaired by Supreme Court Judge Justice Joseph Mafusire and gazetted on 2 October, the commission of inquiry has a 13-point mandate.
It must establish “the exact number of persons” on board and review safety and rescue procedures. Children are not mentioned once.
