CAPTAIN OF DOOM: THE MAN AT THE HELM OF THE MBUYA NEHANDA
Captain Sign Patsikadova was at the helm of the ill-fated Mbuya Nehanda when the vessel capsized on Lake Kariba, killing passengers and leaving scores missing.
But survivors have now raised serious questions about his actions before the disaster, accusing the captain of arrogantly dismissing warnings about powerful waves and refusing to heed advice to reconsider the journey.
The allegations are likely to form part of the growing scrutiny over the vessel’s final voyage, including its passenger load, seaworthiness and the decision to set sail despite difficult conditions.
The Mbuya Nehanda, which had a stated capacity of 90 passengers, was carrying more than that limit. Authorities said ticket records showed 114 adults and five crew members, while additional children may also have been aboard.
Patsikadova died in the disaster.
As grieving families bury their loved ones, investigators now face critical questions:
Why was the vessel allowed to sail? Was it seaworthy? Were passenger limits breached? And were warnings about the dangerous conditions ignored?
The answers could prove crucial in establishing what went wrong during the Mbuya Nehanda’s final voyage.
The captain who took the vessel onto the lake never made it back.