Kariba Hospital worker Kangai Chuma had to handle 97 victims of the Mbuya Nehanda ferry tragedy, and some were people he knew. For the mortuary attendant from Mola, the loss was deeply personal. His family, old schoolmates, and friends were among those who died.
Lake Kariba had never brought him a case of this size. On a normal shift, Chuma might deal with one or two fishermen who had lost their lives in the water. But this case left him facing dozens of victims, with each person needing care and records.
Work kept him at the hospital for up to 15 hours at a stretch. More remains kept coming in, and each new arrival meant extra forms to fill out. All the while, he had no clear word on whether some of his missing loved ones were safe.
During an interview on local radio, Chuma said he had seen all 97 victims at least three times each. Those memories have stayed with him, and he still finds it hard to put what happened out of his mind.
One moment hit him hard. He found the remains of a child whose parent was his close friend, and he broke down. Another relative had lost a wife and two kids. Chuma had to keep doing his job while trying to help that family cope.
Even the basic task of eating became hard. The odor from badly decayed remains made him lose his appetite, yet the work did not stop. Families kept looking for loved ones, and each case brought fresh grief.
At one stage, he thought about staying home and cutting off calls. But he felt he had to stay at his post, both for those still missing and for the people who came seeking news.
And despite all that pain, Chuma has no plans to quit. He still loves his work and intends to remain in the role well past 2030. For him, the trauma has not changed his wish to serve families at their hardest moments.
Lake Kariba had never brought him a case of this size. On a normal shift, Chuma might deal with one or two fishermen who had lost their lives in the water. But this case left him facing dozens of victims, with each person needing care and records.
Work kept him at the hospital for up to 15 hours at a stretch. More remains kept coming in, and each new arrival meant extra forms to fill out. All the while, he had no clear word on whether some of his missing loved ones were safe.
During an interview on local radio, Chuma said he had seen all 97 victims at least three times each. Those memories have stayed with him, and he still finds it hard to put what happened out of his mind.
One moment hit him hard. He found the remains of a child whose parent was his close friend, and he broke down. Another relative had lost a wife and two kids. Chuma had to keep doing his job while trying to help that family cope.
Even the basic task of eating became hard. The odor from badly decayed remains made him lose his appetite, yet the work did not stop. Families kept looking for loved ones, and each case brought fresh grief.
At one stage, he thought about staying home and cutting off calls. But he felt he had to stay at his post, both for those still missing and for the people who came seeking news.
And despite all that pain, Chuma has no plans to quit. He still loves his work and intends to remain in the role well past 2030. For him, the trauma has not changed his wish to serve families at their hardest moments.
