Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE’S power outlook continues to be brighter than it has been in years, with the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) revealing that water inflows into Lake Kariba have more than doubled compared to the same period last year, promising a boost for hydroelectric generation.
According to statistics released by the ZRA on Monday, Kariba Lake is designed to operate between levels 475,50m and 488,50m (with 0,70m freeboard) for hydropower generation.
The significant increase in inflows, is a contrast to the low water levels that plagued the region in the past seasons due to drought.
This means the critical asset now holds enough water to support sustained power generation for both Zimbabwe and Zambia for the foreseeable future.
The Kariba Dam is the lifeblood of the southern African power grid, supplying electricity to both Zimbabwe’s Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) and Zambia’s Zesco.
Its strategic importance cannot be overstated as it remains the single largest source of hydropower in the region, and its health directly dictates the stability of the two nations’ economies.
“The Kariba Lake is designed to operate between levels 475,50m and 488,50m (with 0,70m freeboard) for hydropower generation,” noted the ZRA in its latest update.
This underscores the parameters that ensure safe and efficient power generation. The improved water situation comes at a time when the national power generation matrix is showing remarkable resilience.
As of March 23, the country has gone an impressive 92 days without load shedding, a feat that has allowed industry and households to operate without the disruptions that have historically hampered productivity.
Daily power generation statistics for March 23, 2026, show that the country had a total maximum supply of 1 376 megawatts (MW).
This was driven by Hwange Thermal Power Station, which contributed 892MW, while Kariba provided 400MW.
Independent Power Producers (IPPs) chipped in with 84MW, rounding out a diversified energy mix that is beginning to deliver consistent results.
Speaking at the Zimbabwe CEOs Policy Roundtable in Victoria Falls last week, the Chief Director in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Engineer Benson Munyaradzi, declared that the country is on the cusp of a new era of energy stability.
After years of load-shedding that constrained business growth and livelihoods, Eng Munyaradzi’s projection offered a rare sense of optimism.
“The base for any economy is energy. That is both power and fuels. And on the power sector, we believe we are almost solving the problem right now. We believe we will not be load-shedding the whole of 2026 if nothing unusual happens,” he said.
He attributed the anticipated stability to improved performance at Hwange Thermal Power Station and the increasing contribution from various independent power producer projects coming online.
Looking further ahead, Eng Munyaradzi revealed that the Ministry is already exploring futuristic solutions, including the potential for nuclear power to secure the country’s long-term energy independence.
“We are now looking at the possibility of even introducing nuclear power, especially the small modular reactors. It will be a long-term plan, maybe for the next 15 or so years,” he said.
Bongani Ndlovu