Kariba ferry replacement delayed nine months

According to iHarare, officials revealed that a permanent replacement for the Mbuya Nehanda ferry, which capsized on Lake Kariba last month killing 97 people, could take at least nine months to arrive. The announcement came during a parliamentary inquiry into the disaster. The ferry was the primary transport link for remote Kariba communities, and its loss has stranded residents. The government has deployed temporary boats, but they are insufficient for the demand. The accident exposed decades of neglect in maritime safety and infrastructure. The nine-month wait leaves communities isolated, while the government faces mounting pressure to expedite procurement.