Water Levels in Zambezi River Rise, but Impact on Kariba Reservoir Remains Limited

The Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation has reported a significant rise in water levels along the Zambezi River, following a prolonged period of drought that has severely impacted hydropower generation, agriculture, and other commercial water uses.

Water Development and Sanitation Minister Collins Nzovu announced the increase last week, citing data from the Water Resources Management Authority’s monitoring network. According to Nzovu, water flows at key monitoring stations have surged over the past month. At the Chavuma station in the north-western province, flows have increased by 100% in just 30 days. Further downstream, at Nana’s Farm in the Livingstone district of the southern province, water flows have risen by 86% over the same period.

Despite this positive trend, Nzovu cautioned that the impact on Lake Kariba’s water storage remains minimal. The lake’s usable water levels have increased by only 4%, as the inflow into the Kariba reservoir is nearly equal to the amount being discharged through its turbines. As a result, the recent rise in Zambezi River levels has had little effect on overall water availability for hydropower and other critical uses.

Nzovu emphasised that continued monitoring and responsible water management remain crucial to mitigating the effects of the ongoing drought.