Kariba Ferry : Mnangagwa Doles Out Cars To Spirit Mediums Ahead Of Nyaminyami Ceremony

By Staff Reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is providing vehicles to Kariba spirit mediums (svikiros) in the wake of the devastating Lake Kariba ferry disaster.

The gesture highlights a government-backed response aimed at addressing both logistics and traditional appeasement after a water vessel capsized in August 2026, killing dozens of passengers.

 In mid-August 2026, an overloaded vessel operated by the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) capsized near Long Island due to strong waves, resulting in the death of almost 100 people.

 Following the tragedy, traditional authorities like Chief Nyamhunga publicly stated that critical traditional ceremonies intended to calm the waters had not been performed for over two years due to disagreements among local leaders.

Local beliefs attribute such continuous water disturbances and tragedies to the anger of ancestral spirits and the Nyami Nyami (the Zambezi river god).

The vehicles are being provided to give spirit mediums the mobility required to travel, organize, and execute these overdue traditional rites to culturally safeguard the lake.

This intervention aligns with a broader, ongoing initiative by the Mnangagwa administration to issue high-end vehicles to traditional leaders.

The government regularly issues double-cab 4×4 vehicles to hundreds of traditional chiefs across Zimbabwe.

 The administration defends these allocations by stating that traditional leaders and custodians of culture need proper mobility to efficiently manage local development, carry out judicial tasks, and serve their communities.

 The practice frequently draws criticism from civic groups and opposition figures who argue that millions of dollars are being spent on vehicles for traditional and political allies while public service delivery, healthcare, and maritime safety infrastructure remain severely underfunded.