Zanu PF Youth League Deputy Commissar Cde Taurai Kandishaya has revealed that a relative of his is among those unaccounted for following Tuesday’s Lake Kariba boat disaster, as he appealed to Zimbabweans to mourn “responsibly” and avoid politicising the tragedy.
In a statement posted on Facebook, Kandishaya said his relative had traveled on the ill-fated boat for business, as she routinely did, leaving her children at home expecting to welcome her back as usual. He said her name was not appearing on the list of those rescued.
“Some people’s words on these streets sound like they are blaming the dead for boarding the boat; some sound like it was the first time the boat was operated, and some sound like a new boat doesn’t kill,” he said, urging critics to consider rescued parents who lost children and parents who watched their babies drown.
Kandishaya said, with elections still far off, funerals should not be turned into political campaigning.
“Spare your enmity for the government for other, better platforms,” he said, adding that those concerned should direct their energy toward rescue efforts rather than commentary.
“If you are disturbed and concerned, kindly speak from the waters of Kariba; we don’t need your words but rescue actions.”
He said families of the missing were focused on locating their relatives’ remains rather than engaging on social media, adding, “Tafirwa hatina kana nguva yefacebook iyi, we are busy trying to locate the remains of our people.”
Kandishaya thanked the government for declaring the accident a national disaster and called on the public to join affected families in mourning.