By Simbarashe Sithole
The Zimbabwe Liberation War Victims Association has expressed its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the Kariba tragedy, saying the disaster has left the nation mourning at a particularly solemn time.
In a statement, the association’s national spokesperson, Collins T. Kasiya, said the organisation joined President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the bereaved families and Zimbabweans in mourning the victims.
The association said the tragedy occurred against the backdrop of the country’s Heroes commemorations, a period when Zimbabwe remembers those who died during the liberation struggle.
“Against that solemn historical background, receiving news of another tragic loss of Zimbabwean lives is profoundly painful,” Kasiya said.
He drew parallels between the recent loss of life and the sacrifices made during the liberation struggle, particularly the victims of massacres at Nyadzonya, Chimoio and Freedom Camp in Zambia.
The association said the timing of the tragedy served as a reminder of the fragility of human life and the need for solidarity across political, religious and social divides.
“The tragedy therefore calls us beyond political, religious and social differences. At the moment of death, our common humanity becomes greater than the boundaries that normally separate us,” Kasiya said.
The organisation extended its condolences to the bereaved families, relatives and friends of the victims, as well as the nation at large.
It also commended businesses, organisations, institutions and individuals who have provided assistance to those affected, describing their support as evidence that Zimbabweans can unite in times of crisis.
The association said the tragedy, together with the remembrance of liberation heroes, should encourage Zimbabweans to reflect on mortality, compassion and the importance of supporting one another.
“Life is temporary. Memory survives us. Humanity is measured by what we do for one another while we are still here,” Kasiya said.
The association concluded by saying the victims of the Kariba tragedy, like the country’s liberation heroes, would not be forgotten.
“Zimbabwe mourns as one nation,” it said