By A Correspondent
The water levels at Lake Kariba have been steadily rising following consistent rainfall in both the reservoir and its immediate catchment area, reaching 475.87 meters (2.61% usable storage) by January 6, 2025. This marks an improvement compared to the 477.28 meters (12.32% usable storage) recorded on the same date last year.
Zambia and Zimbabwe, both reliant on Kariba Dam for power generation, have faced significant power shortages due to historically low water levels, leading to increased load shedding in recent months. The situation has been exacerbated by the below-normal rainfall during the 2023/24 season, causing a continued decline in water levels.
According to the Zambezi River Authority, the usable live storage for power generation as of June 5, 2024, was 477.34 meters, compared to 479.67 meters during the same period in 2023. The Kariba Dam was designed to operate within water levels of 475.50 meters and 488.50 meters to generate hydropower for both Zimbabwe and Zambia.
As the region continues to navigate these challenges, the rising water levels bring some hope, but the struggle to meet power demand remains ongoing.