Kariba District Clerk and acting head of the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), Ignitious Chiome, has been remanded in custody over the catastrophic capsizing of the Mbuya Nehanda ferry on Lake Kariba, which claimed 97 lives.
Chiome, who oversees administrative and operational logistics for the state-run agency in the district, appeared before the court facing a charge of culpable homicide.
He is expected back in court tomorrow for a bail ruling.
It is the state’s case that administrative negligence, severe overloading, and operational safety lapses contributed to what is being described as the country’s deadliest maritime disaster.
The boat has a carrying capacity of 50 passengers but is believed to have been carrying an excess of 180 people. Ninety-seven have died while 77 survived the tragedy.
The recovery phase was officially concluded recently, following retrieval operations at depths of up to 80 metres.
State prosecutors said investigations into RIDA management and the ferry crew remain ongoing, and further arrests are not being ruled out as authorities pursue legal accountability over the disaster.
