Kariba ferry death toll climbs to 46

The death toll from the Kariba ferry disaster surged to 46 on Wednesday after police recovered 24 more bodies from the lake, while 77 survivors had been rescued earlier. President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared a state of disaster, admitting to serious maritime safety failures and ordering an urgent overhaul of safety systems. Survivors reported frantic scenes as passengers pleaded with the captain to turn back before the overloaded vessel capsized in rough weather. The number of people on board remains unclear, with estimates ranging from 95 to 153, as the search for missing continues. Kariba MP Shine Gwangwaba lost his sister and 15 other relatives, and the DDF director now faces arrest as authorities probe an insurance warning issued weeks before the disaster, with the vessel designed for 90 passengers carrying at least 114.