KARIBA, Mar. 13 (NewsDay Live) - A Kariba fisherman, who watched helplessly as his colleague was being swallowed by the lake after their boat capsized Tuesday night, says his escape was nothing short of a miracle.
Aleck Pembere (24), of Nyamhunga Phase 3, told NewsDay Live that after the accident, he found himself hanging precariously on a refrigerator that had fallen off the vessel.
He said for over 45 minutes, the refrigerator was his lifesaver before fellow fishermen spotted him from a distance and rushed to his rescue.
Pembere said his colleague Isaac Parichi was not so lucky, and his fate remains unknown.“We were communicating with my friend Isaac Parichi for the first five minutes after the accident, trying to seek help, but he eventually disappeared,” he said.
The accident, believed to have been caused by a tidal wave, occurred while the two fishermen were traveling from ARDA-Gache Gache Fishing Camp to Kariba Urban.
They were carrying two refrigerators, small containers, life jackets and paddles on the boat.
This is not the first accident to occur on Lake Kariba.
Most of the incidents that have occurred in the lake have resulted in loss of lives and property.
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In 2019, a tourist’s boat sank, leaving several people injured.
The following year, three people drowned after their boat capsized.
Local fishermen have appealed to the authorities to provide patrol boats for rescue services.
“We need patrol boats to monitor the lake and ensure that boats are adhering to safety regulations,” said a fisherman who declined to be named.
“This would help prevent accidents and save lives.”
Meanwhile, the search for Parichi continued Wednesday, but yielded no results.
The exercise is set to continue Thursday, although hopes of finding him still alive are waning each day.
