Online Reporter
Harmony Agere
THE rehabilitation of Kariba Dam is nearing completion, with the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) saying the project is now about 94 percent complete.
In a statement released on Thursday, ZRA chief executive officer Engineer Munyaradzi Munodawafa said the Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project (KDRP) remained on course for completion by year-end.
“The Zambezi River Authority is pleased to provide an update regarding the progress recorded thus far in respect of the execution of the Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project (KDRP), which is approximately 94 percent complete,” said Eng Munodawafa.
“The project, which is critical insofar as the safeguarding of the long-term safety and operational efficiency of the Kariba Dam is concerned, remains on course for completion by the end of the fourth quarter of 2026.”
He said the spillway refurbishment component was aimed at restoring the reliability, safety and functionality of the dam’s spillway system after decades of wear caused by natural processes.
“The purpose of the spillway refurbishment project component under the KDRP was mainly to restore and improve the reliability, safety and functionality of the Kariba dam’s spillway system,” he said.
“Over the six decades of the existence of the Kariba Dam, natural processes like concrete expansion and ageing due to a phenomenon referred to as alkali aggregate reaction, affected the six sluice gates by making them more difficult to open and close smoothly.”
According to the update, Phase One of the spillway refurbishment works, which began in May 2019, is now 99 percent complete, while Phase Two, which commenced in August 2024, is about 70 percent complete and expected to be finalised by September this year.
Eng Munodawafa said major milestones had already been achieved under the wider rehabilitation programme.
“To date, the key milestones achieved include the successful completion of the Plunge Pool reshaping works, completion of Spillway Phase 1 and ongoing implementation of Spillway Phase 2 relating to electro-mechanical upgrades,” he said.
The project comprises three components valued at about US$294 million, namely plunge pool reshaping, spillway refurbishment and institutional strengthening.
The plunge pool reshaping works were successfully completed and commissioned in September 2024.
