Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve,Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has reported that water levels in Lake Kariba are steadily declining, a typical occurrence for this time of year.
However, there is hope for power consumers as the current reservoir levels are more than double those recorded at the same time last year, suggesting a more stable period of electricity generation lies ahead.
As of Monday, 18 August 2025, the lake level closed at 478.57 metres, representing a usable live storage volume of 13.88 Billion Cubic Metres (BCM) or 21.43 percent of capacity for power generation.
This stands in stark contrast to the situation on the same date in 2024, when the lake level was significantly lower at 476.89m, with a storage of just 6.21 BCM, or 9.60 percent of usable live storage.
“The Kariba Lake is designed to operate between levels 475.50m and 488.50m (with 0.70m freeboard) for hydropower generation,” reads the ZRA update.
This places the current level well within the operational band.
This improved hydrological situation is a direct result of better rainfall in the preceding season.
Last year, the low water levels saw Zambia and Zimbabwe being allocated as low as 27 BCM for power generation at Kariba.
This decision made by the ZRA in September 2024 after consultations with ZESCO Limited and the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC).
This allocation was a substantial improvement from the previous year’s crisis, which saw generation capacity drastically reduced due to a low water allocation.
The direct benefit of the current higher water levels is now being realised at the power stations.
Statistics from the Zimbabwe Power Company for Monday, 19 August 2025, show that the Kariba South Hydro Power Station was generating 424 megawatts (MW).
This consistent output, averaging around 400MW, provides a crucial and stable base for the national grid, a far cry from the generation constraints experienced for much of 2024.
This output is sustainably drawn from the healthier water reserve, offering hope that load-shedding can be minimised in the coming months.
The Authority relies on a sophisticated monitoring system to manage this vital resource.
“The hydrometric network used for the control and day to day operations of the Kariba reservoir comprise of thirteen stations where water levels are monitored daily. Flow measurements are carried out at eight of these stations which include the Victoria Falls, one of the key stations on the Zambezi River,” reads the ZRA update.
ZRA provided historical context, noting that the maximum flow recorded at Victoria Falls was during the early construction phase of Kariba Dam in March 1958, at 10,000 cubic metres per second, while the lowest was in the 1995/96 season.
While the lake level is expected to continue declining until the next rains, the current buffer offers a much-needed reprieve for Zimbabwe’s energy sector.
