The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has announced that the water levels have risen higher compared to the same time last year. In a statement seen by Pindula News, the authority said as of January 2, 2024, the water level was measured at 477.25 meters. Read the statement:
<blockquote>
<h3>LAKE KARIBA WEEKLY LEVELS IN METERS</h3>
The Lake level is RISING, due to increased rainfall activity on the lake and immediate catchment, closing the period under review at 477.25m (12.11% usable storage) on 2nd January 2024, compared to 475.63m (0.97% usable storage) recorded on the same date last year.
</blockquote>
Lake Kariba is vital for providing hydroelectric power to Zimbabwe and Zambia. The water from the lake is used to generate electricity in the Kariba Dam. When the water levels are higher, more power can be produced. This helps ensure a steady supply of electricity for the people, making it more reliable. However, in recent years, Lake Kariba has been facing a water shortage, which has caused problems for power generation. The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has restricted the amount of water that can be used from the lake by Zimbabwe and Zambia. Unfortunately, this restriction has worsened the power outages in Zimbabwe. The reduced water supply means that there isn’t enough electricity being generated, leading to more frequent power cuts in the country.
Lake Kariba is also vital for irrigation. Moreover, the lake’s diverse ecosystem benefits from high water levels, preserving aquatic habitats and supporting biodiversity. Also, as a popular tourist destination, increased water levels attract visitors for boating, fishing, and wildlife viewing. This boosts local tourism, the economy, and job creation. Lake Kariba is also an important water source for domestic and industrial needs, ensuring sufficient supply for drinking, sanitation, and industries like agriculture, manufacturing, and mining.
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Water Levels Have Risen At Lake Kariba - ZRA

The Zambezi River Authority has given an update on the water levels at Lake Kariba.
We publish the update, the first of 2023, below;
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Lusaka, 16th February 2023 – The Zambezi River Authority (the Authority) hereby updates the public regarding the water situation in the Kariba Catchment and lake levels at the Kariba Dam. This is the first update for the year 2023.
Lake Levels Recorded at Kariba
It is worth noting that the lake level at Kariba, which had been in recession in the last quarter of 2022, has been rising steadily following the onset of rains on and around the lake and Zambezi River Upper Catchment.
<div>The year 2023 commenced with a low lake level of 475.61m or 0.83% of live storage available for power generation on 1st January 2023. This was an increase from the lowest record of 475.60m (10cm above the Minimum Operating Level-MOL) recorded on 30th December 2022.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>From this lower lake level, the level now increased to 476.85m recorded today, 16th February 2023 which translates to 6 Billion Cubic Meters (BCM) or 9.32% of stored usable water meant for power generation by the two utilities – ZESCO Limited and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) at Kariba North Bank Power Station and Kariba South Power Station, respectively.</div>
This level translates to a rise of 1.24m from the level recorded on 1st January 2023. The current lake level of 476.85m, therefore, places the lake at 1.35 meters above the Minimum Operating Level (MOL) of 475.50m.
Hydrological and Climate Outlook 
According to the Africa Rainfall Climatology (ARC) Rainfall Estimator (RFE) of the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) of the United States of America, the Kariba Catchment can be said to have received normal rainfall over most parts of the Upper Catchment and normal to below normal over the larger part of the Lower Catchment during the last 90 days of the 2022/23 rainfall season (November 2022 to February 2023).
This outcome is in sync with the seasonal rainfall outlook prediction by both the CPC and the SADC Climate Services Centre’s 26th Southern Africa Regional Outlook Forum (SARCOF-26) and the downscaled forecasts of the Meteorological Departments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, of normal to above normal rainfall over Southern Africa in general, and the Kariba Catchment in particular. This situation has resulted in generally average inflows into Lake Kariba during this period, which, coupled with the controlled power generation outflows, has been responsible for the increasing water levels at Kariba Dam.
The CPC rainfall outlook for the next 7 days indicates a 50% – 65% chance of receiving above normal rainfall over the whole of the Lower Catchment while the Upper Catchment is expected to receive below normal rainfall during the outlook period.
<div>Zambezi River Flows as Monitored at Chavuma Gauging. </div>
Zambezi River flows monitored at Chavuma rose to 2,338 m3/s on 27th January 2023 before receding and oscillating around 1,600 m3/s up today, 16th February 2023 when they posted 1,538 m3/s. This is another recovery from 489m3/s recorded on 1st January 2023. On 16th February 2022, the river flows were lower at 1,192 m3/s. 
River flows at this hydrometric station are expected to keep rising to the end of the first quarter of 2023.
Zambezi River Flows as Monitored at Victoria Falls Gauging Station
The river flow recorded at the Victoria Falls on 1st January 2023 was 502 m3/s. The level has since risen to 1,412 m3/s recorded today, 16th February 2023. On the same date in 2022, the river flow was lower at 989 m3/s.
The flows are projected to continue rising and reach the peak in the second quarter of 2023.
Current Hydrological Situation and water utilisation 
The Authority highlights that whereas the Kariba Catchment has generally received the predicted rainfall amounts, it is noteworthy that a significant increase in the Kariba Dam water level will only start being recorded between April to June 2023 which is the period during which the waters from the Barotse Floodplains greatly influence water levels at Lake Kariba. Despite the reasonably good rainy season and in light of the expected peak lake inflows that will only be realized during the period indicated above, water allocation to the two power utilities will not be increased in the short term.
Commendably, both power utilities have adhered to the guidance from the Authority, that is, capping average generation at each of their respective power stations at 250MW in December 2022 and as recently reviewed upwards to the 350MW cap obtaining currently. This generation output will be maintained while the hydrological outlook at Kariba continues to be reviewed during the weekly Joint Technical Committee (JTC) meetings between the Authority and the two Kariba power generation utilities under the auspices of the Joint Technical Committee.
2023  Water Allocation for Power Generation operations at Kariba Dam
The Zambezi River Authority allocated 40 BCM of water to cater for power generation operations at Kariba for the year 2023. This allocation is being shared equally between ZESCO Limited and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) for their respective power generation operations at Kariba. 
In partial fulfilment of its mandate, the Authority will continue to monitor the hydrological outlook in the Kariba catchment and where necessary, adjust this water allocation in an effort to sustain reservoir operations at Kariba.
The Zambezi River Authority is a Bi-National organization mandated to contribute to the economic, industrial, and social development of the Republics of Zambia and Zimbabwe by obtaining the greatest possible benefits from the natural advantages offered by the waters of the Zambezi River (between Zambia and Zimbabwe) through the most economical and effective means of providing water for generation of electricity and for other purposes which the Contracting States may decide upon.
</blockquote>
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Full Text: Update On Water Levels At Lake Kariba

The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has announced plans to review the Tripartite Water Purchase Agreement to stiffen penalties against the over-utilisation of <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Kariba_Dam">Lake Kariba</a> and Zambezi River water.
ZRA Chief Executive, Munyaradzi Munodawafa said the Council of Ministers Resolution needed to be fully implemented to effectively regulate the utilisation of water. 
He made the remarks during his visit to the Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project site on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200006066/zra-to-stiffen-penalties-on-kariba-water-use">NewsDay</a> quotes him as saying: 
<blockquote>
The 2022 water allocation was compounded by the need to have very lower lake levels to facilitate for dewatering of the plunge pool without raising concern regarding pore pressure from high lake levels.
The two utilities Zesco Limited (Zambia) and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC)) will maintain combined average generation output at Kariba at 500 megawatts, that is 250MW for ZPC and 250MW for Zesco to the end of January 2023 after which they could increase to 400MW per power station as the inflows of the mainstream Zambezi River further increase during February and March and into the second quarter of the year 2023.
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In November 2022, ZRA which runs the Kariba Dam <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/severe-load-shedding-looms-as-zra-tells-zesa-to-shut-down-kariba-power-station/">ordered ZPC to cut electricity generation by half owing to low water levels.</a>
ZRA which is jointly owned by Zimbabwe and Zambia told ZPC that the dam “no longer has any usable water to continue undertaking power generation operations.”
The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Kariba_South_Power_Station">Kariba South Hydro Power Station</a> provides Zimbabwe with about 70% of its electricity and was at the time producing at least 600MW of its installed 1 050 MW.
The directive saw ZESA Holdings implementing a tough load-shedding regime that saw consumers being plunged into darkness for at least 20 hours per day.
ZRA allocates 45 billion cubic metres of water to both Zimbabwe and Zambia for power generation at Kariba.
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Zambezi River Authority Plans To Stiffen Penalties Against Over-utilisation Of Lake Kariba Water

The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) led by Nelson Chamisa has said the ruling ZANU PF has failed to address the country’s power crisis and proposed possible solutions to the issue.
In a social media post seen by Pindula News, the party emphasised the need to modernise power generation infrastructure. The party said:
<blockquote>
ZANU PF has failed to solve the power crisis. A CCC Government would: 
1. Rehabilitate Hwange Power Stations 
2. Build additional hydro-power.stations including at Batoka Gorge 
3. Modernize Zimbabwe’s transmission infrastructure
4. Open up the energy sector to independent power producers 
4. Invest in renewable energy including solar, wind &amp; gas
</blockquote>
This comes after the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) advised Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/severe-load-shedding-looms-as-zra-tells-zesa-to-shut-down-kariba-power-station/">to shut down the Kariba South Bank Power Station</a> for the remainder of the year due to low water levels at Kariba Dam.
ZRA chief executive officer Munyaradzi Munodawafa said the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, used more water than it had been allocated, hence the need to close the power plant until at least January 2023 to allow the dam to fill.
Zimbabwe experienced acute power shortages in the past three years with authorities blaming ageing equipment’s incapacity to generate enough power, reduced electricity imports and water shortages at Kariba Dam.
Government critics blame the ZANU PF-led government for the country’s prolonged electricity challenges saying little has been done to increase electricity generation since the 1980s.
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