Seventh-day Adventists had gathered at a camp site in Kariba, Zimbabwe, for what was meant to be a week of spiritual renewal when news that the Mbuya Nehanda ferry had capsized on Lake Kariba reached them.

Many at the camp had loved ones aboard.

"With social media awash with videos and pictures of the incident, most congregants were gripped with panic," said Pastor Rich Isaac Ketani. Camp attendees left the site in search of news of their families.

The Mbuya Nehanda, operated by Zimbabwe's Rural Infrastructure Development Agency, capsized while carrying passengers and goods towards remote fishing communities along the Kariba-Chalala route. Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared the incident a national disaster, and the government has launched a full-scale investigation. Ninety-seven deaths have been confirmed, making it the deadliest boat disaster in Zimbabwe history. Preliminary investigations indicate the ferry was carrying about 180 passengers and goods, exceeding its authorized capacity.

At least 18 children were among those killed, 16 of whom were under the age of 10. The vessel's captain, 59-year-old Sign Patsikadova also died.

The ferry was a lifeline for communities along the lake, Ketani said. "Along the lake we have villages and fishing camps. Villagers and residents of these fishing camps come to Kariba town to buy goods and other services, or even when they are transiting to the capital city, Harare, they pass through Kariba using this ferry, which was one of their main sources of transport."

Survivors were taken to a facility at Mahombekombe Primary School in Kariba, where they are receiving medical and psychological care. Adventist leaders were among the first to arrive.

"Many of the survivors are still in shock and are in desperate need of counseling as they are questioning God as to why they encountered such an ordeal," said Dr. Morris Mlambo, a Seventh-day Adventist pastor who was on site.

Ketani said the wider Kariba community has been deeply affected. "They are very depressed and stressed, as many of them up until now don't understand what happened. We must also understand that some of them have never been to a church, so when faced with such struggles they do not know where to turn to."

Church leaders have been granted permission to conduct structured counseling sessions with survivors in the coming days. Mlambo said this support matters in the aftermath of a disaster of this scale, when survivors are left with unanswered questions and acute grief.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church, through the leadership of the Zimbabwe East Union Conference, North Zimbabwe Conference, Kariba District Church, and local members, joined the community response, offering counseling and providing food to survivors at Mahombekombe.

"As you understand, we were at camp meeting," Mlambo said. "But our camp meeting has now shifted, and it is now here at Mahombekombe."

Search and recovery operations have continued across Lake Kariba, involving police divers, military personnel, and local fishermen.

Extending condolences to the people of Kariba and to Zimbabwe, Ketani said, "There is hope, even in death."

The original article was published on the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division news site.