Zimbabwe’s Load-Shedding Eases With Rising Kariba Water Levels

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The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) announced on Monday that there has been a gradual rise in the water level at the Kariba Dam following recent rains. This increase bodes well for electricity supply in Zimbabwe, which has been performing dismally due to load shedding.

According to ZRA’s latest hydrological update, the water level in the Kariba reservoir has been steadily increasing, currently standing at 476.39 meters above sea level. This represents a 6.17% increase in water storage capacity.

Munyaradzi Munodawafa, ZRA’s Chief Executive Officer, attributed the rise in water levels to improved rainfall activity in the Kariba catchment area.

“The Kariba reservoir is experiencing a gradual rise in water level, mainly due to intensified rainfall around the lake. The recent rainfall activity has had a positive impact on the hydrological outlook, and we expect this trend to continue through Q1 of 2025,” he stated in an update.

Kariba Dam is a critical source of hydroelectric power for both Zambia and Zimbabwe. The increased water level is expected to boost power generation capacity. Yesterday, the Zimbabwe Power Company was generating 185MW at Kariba from an installed capacity of 1,050MW.

“The increase in water level is a welcome development, and we expect it to have a positive impact on power generation. The authority remains committed to monitoring and managing water resources efficiently,” Munodawafa said.

He assured that ZRA would continue to monitor the hydrological situation in relation to Kariba Dam’s water level and its power generation capacity.

“This hydrological update highlights the importance of continued monitoring and management of Kariba Dam’s water level to ensure optimal power generation and water management.”

Additionally, Munodawafa noted a gradual increase in Zambezi River inflows at the Chavuma and Victoria Falls gauging stations.

“This is due to the recent dissipation of the El Niño-induced drought, which caused substantial moisture loss from both the ground and the atmosphere,” he said.