In Memoriam:
RW (Bill) Johnson
A Fearless Voice for Truth
The Mike Campbell Foundation is deeply saddened by the passing of RW (Bill) Johnson, one of southern Africa's most respected political commentators, historians and public intellectuals. For more than four decades, Bill Johnson combined academic rigour with exceptional journalistic insight, earning a reputation as one of the region's most perceptive analysts of political developments. While his work ranged widely across southern Africa, he will be especially remembered by many Zimbabweans for his unwavering commitment to documenting the country's political and humanitarian tragedy.
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Measuring Success Through Our Achievements
2025
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Planting seeds of hope today nurtures the harvest of tomorrow
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Empowering communities to grow resilience, independence, and a brighter future.
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Seeking justice, correcting oppression “Long Ride for Justice”
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Ben Freeth has walked/ridden 1,740 miles/2,800km to call for the re-opening of the SADC Tribunal regional court of justice
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Latest News from Zimbabwe
![Boat rescuing ferry survivors 11 Aug 2026[47].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/02876c_5a50d86505c34e88ae1439dcceb09aa3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_931,h_519,al_c,q_85,enc_auto/Boat%20rescuing%20ferry%20survivors%2011%20Aug%202026%5B47%5D.jpg)
The lake Kariba ferry disaster:
a tragedy that demands accountability
The Mike Campbell Foundation expresses its deepest sympathy to the families and communities affected by the catastrophic ferry disaster on Lake Kariba on Tuesday 11 August 2026. The scale of the tragedy is almost impossible to comprehend. As of 20 August 2026, 95 people have died, including 30 children under the age of 10. One was just one month old. Seventy-seven people were rescued and 10 more victims have been positively identified, while two have yet to be identified. We would like to pay tribute to all the people who played such a crucial role in the difficult rescue operation.
Our personal account of the Lake Kariba tragedy by Allan Wheeler and Jason Corbett
On the day of the Kariba ferry tragedy, Tuesday, 11 August 2026, we were on board the houseboat Shawira in Kariba’s Gordon’s Bay. We were supposed to be moving that morning, but our captain, Captain Collins, had serious concerns about the conditions on the lake. The wind was blowing very strongly up the lake from the Binga side and the water was extremely rough. The weather apps we were using were showing winds of around 19 mph. At around lunchtime, a distress call came through. We had a private speedboat available so Captain Collins, Jason Corbett and I left almost immediately to assist…..
Fact Sheet: Kariba ferry disaster – a summary of information to date
On Tuesday 11 August 2026, the overloaded government-operated passenger ferry Mbuya Nehanda capsized on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe during strong winds and rough waves, resulting in at least 95 deaths. Carrying around 180 passengers and heavy cargo against an authorised capacity of 90, as well as five crew, the disaster has become the deadliest transport accident in the country's history. Emergency multi-agency rescue operations—involving local vessels including fishermen, houseboats, the MAPS helicopter, the police sub-aqua unit and army boat squadron—managed to rescue 77 survivors.
