Cyril Ramaphosa offers condolences after Lake Kariba ferry tragedy
· The South African
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his condolences to Zimbabwe following the Lake Kariba ferry tragedy, which has claimed 44 lives.
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Ramaphosa said South Africa stands in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe during what has been a devastating tragedy.
He extended his sympathies to the families of those who lost their lives, survivors of the accident and relatives still waiting for news of loved ones.
The South African president also wished those who survived the tragedy a speedy recovery and paid tribute to the emergency teams involved in the response.
Cyril Ramaphosa commended those working to support affected families and communities while continuing efforts to recover people who remain missing.
On behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, President @CyrilRamaphosa extends his deep condolences to the Government and people of Zimbabwe following the extensive loss of life in a tragedy on Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe. https://t.co/BE4mvH5k1y
— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) August 13, 2026
Mnangagwa calls for urgent action
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa also sent messages of condolence to the families of those who died in the accident on Wednesday.
Mnangagwa described the incident as a tragedy that had exposed serious deficiencies in Zimbabwe’s maritime capabilities.
He called on relevant government agencies to urgently address the shortcomings exposed by the disaster and take an active role in implementing remedial measures.
The Zimbabwean president said lessons must be learned from the tragedy and that steps should be taken to prevent similar disasters from occurring in the future.
The Lake Kariba disaster has prompted renewed scrutiny of safety measures and emergency preparedness on one of Africa’s largest artificial lakes, as authorities continue supporting affected families and dealing with the aftermath of the tragedy.