The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has announced a gradual increase in the water levels at the Kariba Dam, providing a glimmer of hope for Zimbabwe and Zambia, which have been grappling with significant power cuts due to low water levels. According to a press statement released by the ZRA on February 3, 2025, the Lake Kariba water level currently stands at 476.39 meters above sea level (m ASL), a slight improvement from the previous weeks but still notably lower than the 477.85m recorded this time last year.
The increase in water levels is primarily attributed to enhanced rainfall activity in and around the lake area. Despite the positive trend, the water levels remain much lower compared to what was recorded in 2024, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the region due to climatic variations.
The ZRA’s data shows a progressive rise in water levels over the past few weeks:
• 13th January 2025: 475.94m ASL
• 20th January 2025: 476.01m ASL
• 27th January 2025: 476.37m ASL
• 3rd February 2025: 476.39m ASL
This rise translates to a storage volume increase from 2.00 billion cubic meters (BCM) on January 13th to 4.00 BCM by February 3rd, which is still significantly lower than the 10.68 BCM recorded on the same date in 2024.
The Zambezi River flows at the Chavuma and Victoria Falls gauging stations also show a gradual increase, though they too remain below last year’s levels. This situation has led to reduced power generation capacity at the Kariba Dam, which is a critical source of hydroelectric power for both countries.
The ZRA emphasizes the importance of the Kariba Dam in the socio-economic development of the region, with both governments of Zimbabwe and Zambia jointly owning and managing the facility. The authority is hopeful that the current trend of increasing rainfall will continue, potentially improving the water levels and subsequently the power generation capacity by mid-February 2025.
Residents and businesses in both countries continue to face scheduled power cuts, affecting daily life and economic activities. The ZRA and local governments are closely monitoring the situation, with contingency plans in place to manage the power supply challenges.
