Only one body out of the 26 people who drowned Friday in Lake Kariba, Gwembe area has so far been retrieved.
And the Zambia Army and police are struggling to retrieve other bodies and may fail due to lack of marine equipment.
Meanwhile, some affected families were heard murmuring and complaining that had government provided modern water transport in Gwembe district, the deaths would not have occurred.
Zambia Reports understand that the Zambian government is trying to engage Zimbabwe to help retrieve the other 25 bodies.
This came to light when Vice-President Guy Scott visited the bereaved families in the rural area.
Inspector-General of Police Stella Libongani told Scott that the only body that had been retrieved by Saturday evening was that of a one-year-old child, which has since been buried.
Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit coordinator Patrick Kangwa was heard telling the Vice-President that the search is hampered by unsuitable equipment being used. He said his team was trying to ask Zimbabwe for help as he also thought the bodies may have floated to the Zimbabwean side.
Twenty-six people, most of them pupils of Henga Primary School in Gwembe died on Friday after the boat they were on capsized on Lake Kariba.
Vice-President Scott told mourners “your loss is our loss, too. Even if we cannot heal your emotions, as Government we will do everything possible to lighten this burden. We will make available coffins, food and all logistical needs.”
Earlier, Police inspector General Libongani explained to Vice-President Scott that the incident happened around 07:30hours on Independence Day as the victims were travelling to Kalelezhi, a school across the lake, for golden jubilee celebrations.
Libongani said 34 people were on a 14-seater banana boat.
Of the 34, eight survived aged between six and 16.
Sunday 26 October 2014
http://zambiareports.com/2014/10/26/one-26-bodies-lake-kariba-disaster-retrieved/
0 comments:
Post a Comment