By Tichaona Katsvamutima
Zimbabwean music star Winky D brought his performance at the packed Gweru Shutdown concert to a poignant halt on Saturday night, calling for a moment of silence in honour of victims of the Lake Kariba ferry disaster.
Thousands of fans gathered at Gweru Sports Club for the highly anticipated show, with some travelling long distances to see the Zimdancehall icon perform.
However, amid the music and celebrations, Winky D paused his performance and turned the crowd’s attention to the national tragedy unfolding in Kariba.
He asked the audience to observe a moment of silence “for the brothers and sisters that we lost in the tragedy in Kariba”, as thousands of fans joined him in remembering the victims.
The gesture drew praise from fans, including UK-based Zimbabwean Ishmael Chibvunye, who told National Interest News that Winky D’s decision demonstrated leadership beyond the entertainment stage.
“What Winky D did in Gweru was bigger than music,” Chibvunye said.
“At a moment when so many lives have been lost, he paused the celebration and chose humanity. Paying tribute to the lives lost and consoling the nation showed the heart of a true Zimbabwean youth leader and legend.”
Winky D’s tribute came as Zimbabwe continued to mourn one of the country’s deadliest boating disasters.
The death toll from the August 11 Lake Kariba ferry disaster has risen to 80 after eight more bodies were recovered on Sunday, according to the latest official update from the Zimbabwe Republic Police.
The Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) passenger vessel capsized on Lake Kariba while travelling from Kariba towards fishing communities. Authorities said the vessel was carrying an estimated 153 people despite having an authorised capacity of 90.
Seventy-seven people were rescued following the disaster, while search and recovery operations have continued as authorities work to account for those still missing.
Against that backdrop, Winky D’s decision to interrupt one of Zimbabwe’s major entertainment events provided a solemn reminder of the scale of the national tragedy and gave thousands of concertgoers an opportunity to collectively honour those who lost their lives.
